creative photography ideas to do at home

50 Creative Photography Ideas at Home You Should Try in 2024

By Tata Rossi 7 days ago, Professional photography

Can’t leave your home during the lockdown? Use it as an opportunity to try out some creative photography ideas at home. There’s no need to look for professional models, expensive props, or unusual locations, as you can create impressive photos of what surrounds you indoors.

Top 50 Home Photography Ideas

Here’s a list of great ideas and projects you can work on while staying indoors. They are simple, can be easily modified according to what equipment you have or what result you are trying to achieve.

1. Frozen Flowers

Capture the fragile and passing beauty of flowers by freezing them. Use distilled water and cube trays that are freezer-friendly. Make sure the flowers don’t float (and they’ll want to do that) by weighing them down. Take them out of the container and let the whole thing melt away while capturing it.

Cups of coffee can actually be used as DIY photography props . There tons of concepts you can come up with: from imitating a clock to a game of tic-tac-toe.

Throw in sugar cubes to create dynamic coffee splashes. Use a fast shutter speed of 1/1000 or faster to be able to freeze the splash

Beautiful and weird trails created by smoke are a great way of adding a dramatic and mysterious mood to your shot. Set your aperture around f/8-f/11 to make sure that all of the smoke remains in full focus.

4. Water Splash

Splashes in motion look great, especially if you throw in a couple of objects together with them. Set the place where you’re going to shoot by finding a black backdrop screen , a clear container, and a tripod made by an efficient tripod brand .

Start dropping the objects into the water and click the shutter just as they hit its surface. Try using bulb or burst mode on your camera to activate continuous shooting.

5. Water Drops

Water droplet photography is the most popular subgenre of high speed photography .

You’ll also need to use fast shutter speed, like 1/1000+ second shutter speed to freeze a water droplet in the air. I strongly recommend protecting your gear from any water damage with a cellophane wrap.

6. Refraction

Interesting distortions of patterns can appear when you place them behind any clear container with water. So, next time you need some fun home photography ideas, just grab a glass of water and a few patterned backgrounds, set your camera onto a tripod, and start experimenting.

Feel free to adjust the distance between the background and the glass to try and catch the exact effect you want.

7. Soap Bubbles

You’ll need some liquid soap and glycerin, a wire loop, a piece of black cloth as a background, and at least a 100mm macro lens . Try blowing lightly on the soap film to achieve swirling patterns.

You’ll also need a large light source for this. If you don’t have anything you can create a DIY softbox .

8. Ink Drops in a Glass

A mesmerizing and magical effect is created by a drop of ink slowly dissolving into the water. This is one of the creative photography ideas at home that is not difficult to realize at all.

Put a glass onto a clear reflective surface against a white background to be able to clearly see the ink. Use a dropper to add ink to the glass, experiment with colors and the amount.

Love treasure hunts? This photography challenge is almost like that but with a twist. The challenge is to find an object having a shape similar to any letter in the alphabet without leaving your house (e.g. S- for stairs). You’ll get a great series of 26 photos to practice your photography skills.

10. Light Trails

Still life photography can become more creative if you use a multi-color flashlight . Incorporate the principles of long exposure photography , and the camera shutter speed to 1/8 seconds and the aperture to about f/8. Before you press the shutter, move the torchlight within the frame, and continue doing it throughout the exposure.

11. Oil on Water

Oil and water don’t mix, so use this phenomenon to bring to life interesting abstract photography ideas . The secret to emphasizing the droplets is to add a washing-up liquid before the oil. Remember, that a bright background will drastically improve your photos.

12. Freelensing

One of the top photography ideas to do at home is freelensing. To try it, just detach the lens from your camera and hold it backwards against your camera body.

Mind that the autofocus will not work, so you’ll have to focus your lens manually. You’ll get the look that is normally achieved with tilt shift lenses .

13. Yummy Dishes

If you enjoy cooking, try to realize a couple of food photography ideas . You can cook a humble meal and then, using some food photography props turn into a true masterpiece. The props can include ceramic dishes , utensils, napkins, ingredients, and flowers.

14. Shatter Glass

For a more complex idea, try capturing the shattering glass mid-air. Since you get only one chance to break something, you need to make sure that the photo comes out perfect.

To ensure that there is no blur, use a camera remote . The duration of the camera flash should be set to 1/10,000 of a second to freeze the shattering process.

Rugs and carpets provide an abundance of patterns and colors for your home photography. I recommend using artificial lighting, as it’s essential if you want to bring out the vibrant colors of a rug. Try to light the entire area as evenly as possible.

16. Food Landscape

Another very fun idea is using food as a landscape for model figurines . You’ll have to come up with creative associations for the product, and try to create a miniature world with your models and food photography .

Look at the photo example above. A boy is mowing a kiwi, another guy is raking it, and one more figure is probably thinking about planting his garden. Such images can be humorous or touch upon important social issues.

Your pets can be amazing and cute little models for your next fun photoshoot. If they are willing to cooperate, try staging some scenes, and realize creative pet photography ideas .

Make sure to get lots of treats ready to reward and encourage them. If they are not in the mood to collaborate, simply take paparazzi-style dog photography of whatever they are doing during the day.

18. Time-Lapse

Time-lapse videos belong to effortless home photography ideas, as they don’t require much skill or preparation on your part. Simply place your time lapse camera facing the street, set the interval at which you want to snap photos in settings.

At the end of the day, just merge the photos together into a video with the help of free time lapse software , or time lapse apps . It will look especially great if you live on a busy street or in the city.

19. Flatlay

Tabletop photography isn’t just for Instagram beauty and fashion gurus. They can be used to tell any story you want with the objects you already have at your home. No special setup or camera gear is needed either, just make sure you get enough natural light from your window.

First, choose the theme of your flatlay, and then decide on the main props. Finally, find a background that complements your theme the most, you can even purchase a collection of backdrops for tabletop images .

20. Try Motion Blur

Instead of trying to freeze the motion, introduce some blur into your images. To do this, use a slow shutter speed, like 1/30 or slower. A trick you can try is to use Shutter Priority camera modes . It will automatically adjust all the other settings to account for your slow shutter speed.

21. Physical Photos

Create a real-life collage of your physical photographs and capture them all at once. You can hold the shots in front of a multi-colored wall or photograph flatlays.

With the help of a crumpled piece of foil and fairy lights, you can create awesome bokeh photography . Just place your subject in the foreground. Then lay out the fairy lights, and crumpled foil in the background. You’ll need to use a bokeh lens , like Canon EF 50mm f/1.2 to be able to shoot at the widest aperture, like f/1.2, or f/1.8.

23. Black and White

Black and white photography opens new horizons for your professional improvement. Usually, when people look at color photos, they get distracted by the color scheme, but b&w images eliminate this issue. To visualize how a scene will look in black and white, pay attention to patterns, shapes, forms, and textures.

24. Shadows

Ordinary household items can create beautiful shadow photography . You can incorporate shadows from windows, flowers, lace, or even body parts, to add depth and enhance the composition of your photo.

You can use the sun as a natural source of light, artificial sources of light, or learn how to add a drop shadow in Photoshop .

25. Rubik’s Cube

Rubik’s cube is a colorful prop, that is commonly used in levitation photography ideas . Throw it up and try to capture it mid-air. You can also partially desaturate the image, to make the Rubik’s cube stand out.

26. Minimalistic Interior

Try capturing interior photography , but instead of including everything in one frame, try to remove unnecessary elements from the scene and create a minimalistic scene.

27. Collections

If you collect stamps, cassettes, vinyl records, coins, or mini cars, you can take catchy photos of your collection. Repetition in photography helps create an eye-catching composition by introducing symmetry.

28. Explore the House with a Macro Lens

Use macro lenses and cameras for macro photography to take a fresh look at home photography. This photo genre heavily relies on lighting, that’s why I recommend investing into a professional ring flash, like Neewer LED ring light.

The best place to realize macro photography ideas is the kitchen. Food, liquids, appliances, utensils, and plants – can all become the subjects of your photos.

29. Clothes

One of the easiest photography ideas at home is clothing photography . You can arrange the clothes differently: put the apparel in order or scatter it around. Do not forget about different accessories like caps, belts, bags, and shoes.

Shoes are easily accessible in any household, which makes them perfect props for photography ideas at home. This will give you a chance to diversify your portfolio with product photography .

You can use any style of shoes, sandals, boots or sneaks. When it comes to shoe photography , remember not to clutter the image, and keep it free from all the unneeded elements.

31. Jewelry

Don’t forget that you can improve your jewelry photography skills while staying at home. Just take your, or borrow from a friend, find a suitable jewelry background https://fixthephoto.com/jewelry-background.html (Creative Jewelry Background), read tips on how to photograph jewelry and you’re good to go!

Don’t forget to turn your flash off if you’re shooting something shiny, otherwise, you’ll have to deal with reflections. If you’re striving for professional shots, look into light boxes for jewelry photography , a model like Foldio 3 will provide consistent lighting across all shots.

32. Bookworm

If you have a book library at home put them to use by creatively arranging them. Position them in stacks, create different shapes, or try color coordinating them.

The more books you have the more elaborate compositions you can create. It’s a great idea for self portrait photography at home.

33. View from the Window

Are you lucky to have a great view from your window? Include that into your home photography. Capture someone admiring the view. It may be tricky to expose both the background and the foreground, so my piece of advice would be to try the compositing technique with the help of the compositing software .

34. Prism Rainbow

If you are looking for creative photography ideas at home, you should give prism photography a go. An ordinary prism can provide impressive results by creating rainbow effects. Just place it really close to the lens for portraits in the area of the frame where you want the effect to be.

35. Double Exposure

One of the most creative photography ideas at home is double exposure photography . This is a technique that involves combining two images to create a single photo. It’s better to place your subject against the white background and take a photo. It looks best with a landscape or a landscape texture on top.

The technique can be achieved with a film camera or you can create double exposure in Photoshop . You can also address photo manipulation service to achieve attractive results at an affordable price.

36. Use Mirrors

There are tons of ways a simple mirror can be incorporated into your portraits, but one of the most creative photography ideas at home is to use several mirrors to create an infinity mirror illusion. The mirrors must be parallel, with a camera between them. You may want to use free apps to remove unwanted objects from photo to get rid of the camera in your image.

37. Self Portraits

Home is a perfect place to capture self-portraits. One of the trendiest self portrait ideas is posing with a disco ball . Choose a self-timer mode on your camera to capture the photos without having to be near the camera.

38. Morning Routine

This is one of the sweetest photography ideas at home. Shooting in the morning when you are having a cup of coffee or reading a newspaper brings a special atmosphere to the picture. You can also turn it into a photography series , by shooting every morning, or capturing every Saturday morning.

39. Fairy Lights

Fairy lights are irreplaceable Christmas photo props , but they can also elevate any portrait. You can wrap the LED lights around people or put them in jars.

You can also cover part of your lens with them for a beautiful foreground. Create stunning bokeh by using a wide aperture, like f1/2-1.8.

40. Crystal Ball

A crystal ball will definitely spice up your photography. Crystal ball photography creates an effect as if you have used an external lens. The refraction turns the image upside down, creating captivating photos. It is recommended to use a macro lens to get closer to the ball.

41. Window Reflection

Capturing reflections in windows can help create real-life double exposure photos. The overlap of subjects inside and outside helps create an interesting and complex composition.

Avoid taking such photos at midday, because you will end up with lens glare. Instead, create blue and golden hour photography .

42. Mundane Activities

The main purpose of home photography is to present everyday objects or scenes in a captivating manner. Capture mundane activities, but improve them by using creative photography composition techniques , like the rule of thirds, or the leading lines.

43. Feathers

Throw feathers up in the air for dreamy portraits. Feathers are excellent props for at-home children and couple photography .

44. Silhouettes

Silhouette photography belongs to creative photography ideas at home. It creates a mysterious feel in the image. This allows viewers to fill gaps and come up with their own story from a picture.

To create backlit portraits , you need to place a light source behind the subject. You can also try to underexpose the shot a little, as it results in an even darker silhouette.

45. Balloons

No matter what color are balloons , they are universal and cheap photography props for every kind of photoshoot. Fill the room with balloons of the same color to create monochromatic images. Match the color with your outfit to complete the look.

46. Glitter

Glitter portraits are fun, although they can be a mess to clean up after. To improve your chances of capturing glitter quickly, use the continuous shooting mode.

47. Neon Paint

This is one of the creative indoor photography ideas . Simply grab a low light camera , neon paint and a UV flashlight .

Apply neon paint to your skin, and it will give off a pleasant glow if you shine a UV flashlight on it. You can also go one step further by creating neon patterns in the background too.

48. Butterflies

Use butterfly stickers to turn an ordinary portrait into a work of art.

49. Flower Mask

Take a regular face mask and attach flowers and greenery to it. This idea is very relevant given the current events.

50. Newborn

A home is a perfect place to create newborn photography . You will need newborn photography props like cushions and posing pillows , blankets and wraps, a few accessories, and a ton of patience.

Try to capture babies during the first two weeks, because at this age, they are easier to pose, and you’ll be able to try more newborn photography poses .

Bonus Tools

Want to make your home photography look like it’s been taken by a professional in a studio? These ready-made Lr presets will help you achieve attractive color correction and consistent look across all photos.

• Top photo ideas at home
• Bonus tools

• Video Editing Services
• Virtual Staging Services
• Outsource Photo Editing
• Retouching Tips
• Photo Editing Freebies
• Free Raw Images for Retouching
• Free Photoshop Actions
• Free Lightroom Presets
• Affiliate Program
• Privacy Policy
• Cookie Policy

25+ Creative Photography Ideas and Techniques to try

2020 has been a year like no other. Never before has the world been so connected–connected by the same crisis, sharing the same problems, and fighting the same demons. But at the same time, all of us as individuals have had to disconnect. The coronavirus pandemic has forced many of us to be stuck at home, self quarantined and isolated from our friends and family.

Photographers have been just as isolated as everyone else. Significant events are cancelled, socially distanced get-togethers are harder to shoot. Photographers used to work with new people and models may be feeling like they're stuck in a bit of a rut, unable to continue with their normal workflow.

So much time alone can be used in a few ways. Many creative individuals might spend their time looking for ways to be, well, more creative!

What is Creative Photography?

There's no tidy and agreed-upon definition of what constitutes creativity in photography. Unlike other forms of art, a creative photo is one that has some original artistic touch added to it. Creative photography is not, however, an excuse for bad photography. For a photo to be considered creative, there must be an intent to say something. All photographs should tell the viewer a story. The creative part should only help to do that.

The cool thing about adding some creativity into your images is that you can do it to any genre or type of photography . The absolute best images are the ones that are calculated and creative. So wherever you are and whatever you are shooting, putting yourself into a creative mindset helps you up your photographic game.

How to Be More Creative in Photography

Being creative in photography requires coming up with new creative photo ideas and inspiration. But don't limit yourself to only photography–creativity takes many shapes and forms. One of the best ways to get more creative is to try something new. Try drawing, sketching, or painting for a change. Get creative with a pen and paper first, and start storyboarding what you'd like to shoot.

You can also spur creativity by changing things up. Maybe there's an old camera body in the bottom of your equipment bag you seldom use or an old prime lens that's getting dusty. The point is that you need to mix up your routine and see where it takes you.

Getting inspiration from other photographers through their online photography portfolios or social media posts only goes so far. Because it's a passive process that your creative mind is disconnected from, it's hard to make the leap from admiring other people's work to actively making your own. It's a starting point, but you've got to make the biggest leap from there.

Pixpa  is a portfolio website builder platform that is trusted by creative pros around the world. Have a look at some outstanding  portfolio website examples . Pixpa offers an easy yet powerful drag-and-drop website builder and includes Client galleries, eCommerce, and blogging tools to enable you to manage your complete online presence through one seamless platform. Explore all  features  that make Pixpa the perfect choice for creative professionals.

Create your professional portfolio website with Pixpa.  Sign up for a 15 days free trial.

Children are, by far, the most creative individuals among us. Spending some time with kids is a great way to relearn what it means to be creative. Physical activity and play can also help you harness a little creativity, but in the end, it is a mindset. All too often, adults get themselves firmly planted into a way of thinking or a way of life. Shaking it up a little and forcing your brain to problem solve more is the only way to recapture that child-like mindset.

25+ Creative Photography Ideas and Techniques

Diy filters.

Putting something on the end of your lens and shooting through it is a fun way to mix up your photos and see what you get. There is no cost to snapping some trial and error shots in the age of digital photography and trashing them. Create your own artistic filters with cellophane wrap, also called cling film, from your kitchen drawer. That will add a blurred or foggy effect. You can warp or shape the plastic to reduce or increase the look. Search around the house and find other types of clear or translucent materials that you could shoot through. Many different plastics can make star-light effects and even colored blurs.

Off-Lens Add-Ons

You can also hold items out and away from the camera, and include the item as part of the composition. Glass globes or photographic glass spheres have become popular in recent years because the sphere creates a distorted image of the world around it. You can also pick up other types of lenses that can be held out. You can also shoot through your glasses or sunglasses, which add a cool framing effect. If your glasses are colored or polarized, all the better.

Creative Lighting

Playing with the lighting in a scene is a fundamental way for a photographer to learn to become better. Photography is, after all, painting with light. You can do it a few ways. You can move lights around and play with the types of lighting your use. Everything from everyday candles and flashlights to photography-specific mini LEDs and speedlights can be used.

You can also modify those lights. Lighting gels are colored filters that fit over the lights to create different effects. You can make gels with clear or colored pieces of translucent plastic.

Play With Your Still Lifes

Let's go ahead and admit it. Many of us haven't done a real still life shoot since art class in high school or college. Giving the artists control over all elements, from the subject matter, arrangement of subjects, composition, and lighting, still lifes are an excellent way to spur creativity.

So do you take a bowl of fruit and start shooting? You can, but try to get creative! What kind of story can you tell? Is there any way that you can make your still life into an entire dramatic scene?

Get a New Perspective

Playing with perspective is a quick and easy trick many photographers like to use when they want to up their unique creative photography ideas. You can change your perspective as you take the picture or change what the viewer sees.

To change your perspective, you need to move around. Getting down low and shooting while looking up are great ways to see the world from different points of view. Or, consider shooting straight down from above. If you've got a drone, now's the perfect time to go flying.

Forced perspective is the manipulation of visual cues in the composition in an attempt to fool your viewers. Have you ever seen a picture where a huge person appears to be holding the moon in their hands? That's an example of forced perspective. Using a telephoto lens and zooming in on the person from a distance, you can frame the photo to make small things look large against big things made to look small. Read this article for some great tips on forced perspective in photography .

Fantasy Worlds

There's a whole genre of photography that revolves around creating fantasy worlds in your image frame. Small action figures or other toys are excellent subject matter. Legos are really popular.

Macro Landscapes

Another fun and creative thing to try is making an entire landscape out of something else. Many photographers have found food works great with this, but it could also include toys or the subjects mentioned above. Broccoli trees sprouting from lettuce fields, with fruit rainbows in the sky. Go wild!

Focus Your Lens on Your Kids or Pets

Many people are seeing more of their kids, pets, and other family members, which is one positive outcome of 2020 for some. Why not turn your camera to subjects at home? Look for inspiration in their daily lives, and shoot from their points of view.

Go Monotone

One creative exercise from art class is to pick a color for a day and focus entirely on that one element. Include compositions in monotone or limited color palettes . Look up the complementary colors and use them. Hunt around for design ideas. Just for the day, think about your photography in terms of design rather than the camera and the tools you use.

Built Your Own Background

Shooting still lifes and portraits of your family around the house is bound to creatively run dry sooner or later. Spice things up by creating backgrounds that can be fun and dynamic. Many photographers use large chalkboards. Draw out the scene you want your subject to star in. Plan it out, and then incorporate your living subject into the drawn-out scene. Have your subjects help make their own backgrounds.

Of course, that's only one example. If you're doing macros or still lifes, you could use a cardboard box and create a lightbox and background. You could paint a background on an old board or a piece of artist's canvas. Use old fabric and sew up something unique. The possibilities are endless!

If static still lifes are getting you down and your family has returned to their devices, try your hand at splash photography. You'll need a fast shutter speed and your camera up on a tripod in burst mode. You can spill things, drop things into water or other fluids, or dribble water out of bottles. Get creative with the background, as above, or combine into one of those fantasy worlds you created.

Sit Down and Learn Something

If there's one thing we can agree on, it's that it's easier to learn new skills than ever before. YouTube and online education websites are chockablock full of excellent tutorials in post-production techniques. Some of them are beyond creative–they're nothing short of genius. It doesn't have to be anything far out and artistic, either. You could spend the afternoon learning how to do focus stacking or texture overlays. How are your HDR skills? Or maybe you'd like to learn how to simulate the look of tilt-shift lenses for that distinctive tiny world effect.

You’ve Got the Time

Long exposure photography is one thing that many people know how to do, but few dedicate the time to doing it. Now is a great time to play with long exposure photos, both indoors and outdoors.

If you've never used an ND (neutral density) filter for long daytime exposures, it's an excellent tool for creative photography images. They add a moody and dramatic feeling that really can't be achieved in any other way.

Manual Panoramas

Panorama stitching is easy to do in any photo editing software, but many photographers rely on using their phones' built-in automatic functions for the purpose. Next time you're out admiring a fantastic vista, grab your tripod and take a real panorama. How many megapixels can you squeeze in?

Reflections

Reflections are incredible tools in photography. They create symmetry and force the viewer to alter their perspective. You might want to read this article on symmetry in photography . The best thing about reflections is that photos make us admire them more. In real life, we're so used to seeing them that we put them out of our minds. But when they're used well in photographic composition, they make the whole image pop.

Try Free Lensing

Free lensing is the technique of holding your lens off-camera and shooting through it. To get the aperture to work, many photographers purchase broken lenses off of eBay and use them. Why go to all of this effort? Free lensing creates some unique images right out of the camera. The extra light entering the sensor from the opening creates neat washouts and softens the focus. As you get better, you can control the angle like a tilt-shift lens.

Embrace the Blur

Blurry photos don’t have to be bad. In the efforts to be creative and perform some trial and error, work on emphasizing blur. Look for moving objects that you can capture motion blur on, or try some whip pans with the shutter open. Zoom blur is fun, too, when you move the lens zoom in or out during the exposure.

Incorporate Shadows

Use shadows in your composition to help tell your story. Here are a few great photography composition tips and techniques to help you get started. Have a model interact with their shadow, or tell an entire story using nothing but shadows.

Blow Some Bubbles

Play with bubbles. They reflect and refract light in unique ways, often with colorful oily films.

Take a Dive

Are you near the beach or even just a neighbourhood pool? Experiment with underwater photos . You don't have to have your best camera in expensive housing. You can pick up underwater cases for point and shoot cameras on Amazon or eBay reasonably cheaply. Your subjects can range from kids at the local community pool to exotic coral reefs in the South Pacific. It's fun and challenging, and there's a lot to learn.

Picture-in-Picture

Try using printed photos as elements in your picture for a picture-in-picture effect. You can modify the picture with paint or materials to create a mixed media artwork.

It's also an excellent time to look at all the ways you can have your work reproduced. Check out the latest laser-etched metal photos or classy canvas art wraps available from online printers.

Blow Off the Dust

Spend a day with a piece of equipment you never use. What is in the very bottom of your camera bag that is collecting dust? A fisheye lens, super-telephoto, or an old point-and-shoot? What about those speedlights that haven't gone off in a few years? You could also scour eBay and your local used camera shop for bargains. Find a $20 old-school vintage lens and buy an adapter tube for your camera.

Paint with Light

Light painting is the act of moving some illuminated object around in a long exposure photograph. Sparklers are common, but some people make their own with steel wool and wire whisks. Flashlights and lanterns work. Even remote controls work since the infrared light they use is visible to the camera's sensor.

Light It Up!

While you're thinking about light, think up some creative off-camera lighting positions. Put your flash inside objects or backlight your subjects.

Bonus Creative Idea–Use What You Hate

Do you have a pet peeve? What gets your goat, photographically speaking? Take some time to ponder what bothers you about it, and learn to embrace it. You don't have to have a change of heart, but why not perform an artistic experiment and embrace things you usually hate. Lens flare is a classic example that many photographers loath. How about over-the-top HDR images? Soft focus or out of focus images can be used well in the right context. Whatever bothers you the most, think about why that is and ask yourself, if I worked out a way to use this, what would it look like, and what kind of story would it tell?

Do Checkout These Articles

• 15 Great Tips on How To Create Awesome Mood Boards
• Best No-Code Tools for Photographers in 2024
• 15 iPhone Photography Tips to take Great Photos
• 16 Must-have Camera Accessories for Travel Photographers

Getting creative with photography isn't a challenging task as long as you have the time to have fun with it. If it's always a chore or part of your job, it's sometimes difficult to relax and enjoy the process. But only by stepping out of your comfort zone and making some playtime will you rekindle that creative spark that made you love photography in the first place.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How do you get creative photography ideas? Being constantly aware and observant of the world around you is key in getting creative photography ideas. The idea behind photography is to capture unique and interesting moments and objects and for that you need to constantly be in search of such things. It is also a good idea to play around with your camera settings,  experiment with various camera angles and lighting to see if you can create some interesting results. 
• What are some ideas for photography? An easy and creative photography idea is to create interesting macro landscapes using items you have lying around at home. You can also use forced perspective to create some compelling and fun visual stories. Clever use of mirrors and reflections can also create unique and interesting photographs that do not require a lot of specialized equipment. 
• How can I do creative photography at home? If you want to try creative photography at home, you can use forced perspective, DIY filters, creative lighting etc. to take fairly mundane photography ideas and take them to the next level. With clever camera techniques and hacks, you can make your photography more creative and interesting without having to travel too far spending too much on fancy equipment.

Try Pixpa - the easy, all-in-one portfolio website builder loved by photographers & creators.

Explore More Articles See all articles

Top-rated by creatives for 10+ years

All-in-one website builder for creatives.

Build Your Website

Start an Online Store

Sell Images

Marketing Tools

Client Galleries

Photo Gallery Apps

Start a Blog

Creatives love Pixpa

15-day free trial. No credit card required.

Beautiful Templates Made for Creatives Awesome Support Really Easy to Use Affordable Pricing

Rated as top website builder by creatives for 10+ years.

What's new on Pixpa

33 Creative Home Photoshoot Ideas to Try Now – Indoor Photography Guide

Posted on Last updated: March 7, 2023

Looking for some unique and easy home photoshoot ideas you can try now?

Here’s 33 creative home photography ideas to try out now inspired by some of my favourite instagrammers !

Photography is one of my favourite parts of what I do.

I love being able to capture beauty all around the world and share it on my little slice of the internet (aka – my instagram ).

As much as it’s fun to travel to stunning destinations for photoshoots, it’s not always an option.

In times where you’re not able to venture off to a pretty shoot location, putting together a creative photoshoot at home can be a great alternative.

That’s why I wanted to put together a list of easy at home photoshoot ideas inspired by some of my favourite creators to help you step up your instagram game.

I hope you enjoy this list of creative and easy indoor photoshoot ideas to try!

If you’re looking for more creative photoshoot ideas you may also want to check out this post:

• 22 Stunning Spring Photoshoot Ideas
• 40 Easy Instagram Poses to try for your Next Photoshoot
• How to do a Photoshoot at Home by Yourself
• 22 Creative Winter Photoshoot Ideas
• 20 Creative Fall Photoshoot Ideas
• 20 Unique Outdoor Photoshoot Ideas
• 11 Creative Solo Valentine’s Day Photoshoot Ideas

Table of Contents

How to do a photoshoot at home by yourself

You may be under the impression that you need a professional photographer to take great photos of yourself at home, but that is not the case.

It is entirely possible to capture stunning images for your Instagram account by yourself.

In fact, many of the photos on my own Instagram are self-taken!

I have a full guide to how to do a photoshoot at home by yourself which will be useful if you’re just starting out on your photography journey.

Now onto the list of creative & easy home photoshoot ideas!

Glam home photoshoot ideas

Here are some indoor photography ideas that all have a glamorous twist!

1. Bathtub shoot

I love the idea of getting dressed up and doing a photoshoot in your bathtub.

It’s such an easy photo concept and unless you’re in a condo *most* of us have bathtubs we can easily do a photoshoot in.

Just put on your best dress, grab a glass of vino and your sunnies like @thebirdspapaya , and get shooting!

The contrast of being in glamorous dress in the bathtub makes for a really fun and creative home photoshoot idea that’s easy to execute.

Have you tried doing a glam bathtub shoot yet?

2. Get glam in bed

I have always loved the whole wearing a robe with sunglasses in bed, with a towel on your head photo concept, and I’ve done it myself numerous times in the past!

This is a great photoshoot idea to try at home or in your hotel room when you’re traveling (which is usually when I do it).

Bonus points if you add some glamorous jewelry too.

It really just ups the glam factor don’t you think?

3. Have a milk bath

Milk baths make for such beautiful photo concepts because of the milky effect of the water.

To make a milk bath, just add 1 to 2 cups of milk to a full tub of warm water!

This is actually really great for your skin as well, so not only will you get a great instagram photo out of it but you’ll be giving your skin a little TLC too.

4. Try the #Pillowchallenge for a fun home photoshoot idea

This challenge was pretty popular on both TikTok and Instagram.

It’s not only fun to do but super easy!

Grab a pillow and cinch it with your favourite belt.

Now you’re all set with an easy glam look you can shoot at home.

5. Get creative and try a laundry room photoshoot

Who would have thought appliances would make for a worthy home photoshoot idea?

I love this shot by @freddy who shows us just how glam the laundry room can be.

It just goes to show that a little creativity and thinking outside of the box can go a long way in terms of putting together creative content at home.

Grab some sheets and see what sort of creative shots you can come up with in your laundry room.

6. Do a photoshoot with all of your favourite dresses

I absolutely love the result of this home photoshoot idea by @hellomissjordan .

Pull out your favourite fancy dresses (you know, the ones you rarely get the chance to wear!), lay them out on the ground, and lie on top of them for a unique and easy home photography idea.

The result is incredible and it’s such a great way to use items you already have.

Plus it’s a great way to show off your dress collection.

Home photoshoot ideas using flowers

Flowers are such an easy prop to get your hands on and they make shooting photos at home easy and fun.

Next time you’re at the grocery store grab a couple of bouquets to use as props and try out a few of these home photoshoot ideas using flowers.

By the way, for more flower photoshoot ideas check out my spring photography guide!

7. Try laying on a bed of flowers

I’ve always loved flatlay style photos shot from above and this one is really easy to do yourself.

To get this photo I laid out a plain tablecloth on my living room floor and then spread the flowers out in a pattern I liked.

Once I was done I laid on top of them and had my mom shoot me from above.

If you don’t have a photographer with you don’t worry, you can easily shoot this with a tripod too.

I shot the below for a product campaign but you can do it for anything really!

8. Make a headdress or crown out of flowers

Who doesn’t love a twist on a flower crown shot? I love the way @Katie.one created a headdress with flowers in the below image.

It gives me total artistic Frida Kahlo vibes and is such an easy photoshoot idea to try at home.

9. Make jewelry out of flowers

Not only can flowers make a great crown, they can make pretty jewelry too. Using your flowers as jewelry can be a fun home photoshoot idea that’s easy to execute.

You can turn flowers into a necklace like @kyliekatich did above or try dangling them as earrings. It’s such a simple home photoshoot idea but the results are fab!

10. Stick flowers to your face

I never thought I would be recommending taping or glueing flowers to your face… but here we are!

I’ve seen a lot of creators do this lately and I love the resulting images.

They’re so unique, beautiful, and such an easy home photoshoot idea.

11. Have a flower bath

Not only are flower baths absolutely beautiful, but they make for a great photoshoot opportunity!

Grab an assortment of flowers and cut off the stems, then just place them into your bath!

Make a romantic bath scene by using roses, or try a more whimsical look with tropical flowers and palm leaves.

Home photoshoot ideas using props

Here are some indoor photography ideas using fun props you likely have lying around the house!

12. Get creative with hairpins

Hair pins and barrettes are all the rage right now. Why not use your collection as props in a photo?

I love the idea of layering all your barrettes over a ponytail or braid.

This is such a simple home photoshoot idea but the end result looks great! It has a really glam vibe to it don’t you think?

13. Play with your Food

Food always makes for super fun props in photos. I love the way @thegingerwanderlust incorporated oranges into the below photo.

It’s such a fun touch that makes for a bright, happy photo you can easily shoot at home.

14. Show off your plant collection

If you’re a crazy plant lady show off your collection to the gram!

I love the way @jasminealley did this and the House plants for Dummies book is such a fun touch.

Lord knows I need that book because I keep killing my plants…

15. Use Mirrors

We all have mirrors at home of all shapes and sizes that can make for amazing photoshoot props.

There are so many different types of photos you can try using mirrors you have at home.

Try a through the mirror shot, mirror selfie, or do something more unique like @officiallyquigley did above.

There’s so many ways you can get creative using mirrors so let your creativity shine here!

16. Make a blanket fort

Here’s an easy home photoshoot idea that only requires one prop – a blanket!

Make a blanket fort around you and shoot from inside the fort.

I just love how Lisa Marie’s photo turned out above.

If you use a blanket that has holes in it and shine a light through it you can also get a really neat light pattern effect like she did!

17. Play with bubbles

Talk about a cheap prop that results in super cute photos.

If you’re looking for a fun and cute home photoshoot idea try playing with bubbles!

Grab yourself some bubbles or bubble gum and try shooting from different angles.

I bet you will get some pretty fun photos out of this and it’s so easy to do at home.

18. Try using retro toy or a toy from your childhood for a fun home photoshoot idea

Everybody loves a little bit of nostalgia in their feeds, and what’s more nostalgic than a toy you grew up playing with?

I absolutely love the way @girlwiththeredbob shot this photo using a colourful slinky.

So creative and something you can easily recreate from the comfort of your own home!

19. Look through a magnifying glass

If you have a magnifying glass lying around this is a great photoshoot idea that’s really easy to do!

(By the way, if you don’t you can easily pick up a cute vintage looking one like this at an antique or thrift store.)

Take a photo looking through the magnifying glass using your portrait lens, and you’ll end up with something like this!

I love the way Lisa Marie also added a vintage filter to the photo which really gives it that retro vibe.

20. Play with cards

You might not have a magnifying glass lying around, but I’ll bet you do have a deck of cards!

Here’s a super easy & creative home photoshoot idea that’s easy to do.

Grab a deck of cards and lay them out on the floor before laying in them.

Have a friend (or use a tripod) shoot from above and have fun posing with a card or two in your hands.

Super cute isn’t it?

Home photoshoot ideas using light

Here are some indoor photography ideas that involve playing with light and shadows.

21. Play with Shapes

I love this at home photoshoot idea I saw on @jera.bean’s Tiktok and its such an easy photography idea you can recreate.

Grab a piece of cardboard and cut shapes into it, then use light to project those shapes onto yourself!

I also really like this version @kyliekatich did using words instead of shapes.

Write out an inspiring phrase and you can create a really unique photo out of it.

22. Grab your Christmas lights

Most people have a string of Christmas lights laying around, and they make for a really creative photoshoot idea!

Grab your Christmas lights and place them around you while you’re lying on the floor with the lights off or dimmed.

You’ll want to make sure you do this on a hard floor rather than carpet, so that you get the reflection effect of the lights in the floor.

23. Use sha dows

Playing with shadows can be a great way to get some unique photos for your instagram feed and it’s an easy home photoshoot idea.

Try using an object to cast light through it (like the below picture by @katiecung ) or use shadows that are already cast through the window.

There are so many creative ways you can use shadows in your photos!

24. Play around with coloured light

This photography concept is easy to recreate and you can try it with any color.

You can use either coloured lightbulbs or coloured filters held in front of a light source.

@Destinationchaser has a tutorial in her post above to show you how she created this photo.

Artsy home photoshoot ideas

Here are some artsy indoor photography ideas for the creatives!

25. Get creative with paint

Paints aren’t just for canvases anymore!

Grab some paints and get creative with them like @mr.benfield did in the below photo.

I love the rainbow look he created.

This is a super easy and creative home photoshoot idea and the result is amazing.

26. Throw something

This photography idea involves a little more work because you’ll have to use Photoshop for the final result.

To make a photo like this you have to take numerous photos then use photoshop to superimpose them together.

Take your main photo and a bunch of photos of the same set up with objects flying.

You’ll then want to photoshop the flying objects into your main photo which takes some time but the results are totally worth it!

27. Grab some glitter

Who doesn’t love glitter, sequins, and everything that sparkles?

Here’s a couple of home photoshoot ideas for you to try at home using glitter and sequins.

28. Get lost in the clouds

I love the idea of grabbing pillow stuffing and using it as “clouds” in a photo.

Jazz the photo up even more by using string lights!

It makes for a unique, fun and creative DIY home photoshoot idea you can easily do!

29. Use polaroids for a unique home photoshoot idea

I’ve seen this concept circulate around and I really love it!

It’ll take a little bit of photoshop skills to make the photos black and white but you can skip that part if you want to keep it more simple.

The only prop you’ll need for this is polaroids so it’s a super easy home photoshoot idea!

30. Get up close and personal

The eyes are the window to the soul and I love the way @larinabeauty captured her eyes up close.

Grab your portrait lens or try this with the portrait mode on your phone!

31. Cover your room in newspapers

Here’s another great home photoshoot idea using newspaper!

Get your hands on a bunch of newspapers and cover your wall and floor with them.

Now you’ve got a newspaper studio that makes for a really cool photoshoot spot!

You could also try this with magazines which would also make for a really great photo backdrop.

Themed home photoshoot ideas

Here are some indoor photography ideas involving fun themes!

32. Recreate one of your favourite Hollywood images for a fun home photoshoot idea

The #Hollywoodathome challenge is so much fun, it’s no wonder it’s been circulating on instagram!

Check out the way @hellomissjordan recreated this image of Audrey Hepburn… so cute!

33. Recreate one of your favourite characters at home

I’ve been loving @rachmartino ‘s characters in quarantine home photoshoot series.

She’s really turned the whole having to stay at home into a fun creative venture!

Try creating your own version of a character in quarantine concept using your favourite TV, movie, or book characters.

Final Thoughts

I hope you all enjoyed reading this list of photoshoot ideas you can try at home.

Hopefully you’re feeling a little more inspired to shoot from home and have plenty to keep you busy over the coming weeks.

Looking for more creative home photoshoot ideas or photoshoot guides? Check out this post!

And if you’re looking for more things to keep you busy during this extra time at home you might enjoy these posts:

• 42 Things to do When You’re Bored at Home
• 40 Binge Worth Shows to Watch on Netflix

Feel free to pin any of the below to refer back to later!

With love, Kirsten

52 photography projects: a great technique to try every week of the year

Our pick of the perfect weekend photography projects

• Home photography projects
• Outdoor photography projects
• More outdoor photography projects
• Long-term photography projects

Looking for photography projects to stimulate your creativity? Whether you’re a beginner who’s just learning the ropes or a seasoned snapper in need of inspiration, trying out a new technique can help you grow as a photographer. That’s why the list below features our pick of the best ideas to try with your camera.

From painting with light trails to capturing twilight landscapes, there are countless creative ways to use your camera and its lens. This round-up of our favorite weekend projects features suggestions to suit every skill level – whether you’re shooting with a smartphone or a ‘proper’ camera like a DSLR.

Some you can do from the comfort of you home, while others will have you heading out in search of specific scenes. Whether it’s a novel technique or an inventive suggestion for finding fresh subjects, every idea below has one thing in common: it should challenge you to try something different and find a fresh perspective.

Most of the projects can be attempted using the equipment you already own. Those that do require additional materials should all be achievable with pocket-money purchases – and if there’s any crafting involved, it should be well worth the effort when you see the results.

We’ve shared 52 of our favorite suggestions to do in 2022 below. Try them all and, in a year’s time, there’s a good chance you’ll be a better photographer, with a keener understanding of your camera and what it’s capable of. Plus you’ll be all set to attempt the final project: self-publishing a photo book.

The best home photography projects:

1. water drop art.

The basic idea with this project is to suspend a container of liquid and let drops fall through a small hole, then capture the resulting splash. Timing the shutter as the splash is created is everything. We achieved good results using two flashguns set to their lowest power (1/128th), an aperture of f/22 and water mixed with Xanthan gum to make a more viscous solution. We also used a SplashArt water drop kit from PhotoTrigger , which helped to regulate the size and frequency of the drops.

2. Indoor splash shots

For this project you'll need a flashgun that you can fire remotely, a container with clear sides for your water, a coloured background and a tripod. Set up the container and backdrop, then position the flash over the container. With the camera on a tripod and set to manual focus and exposure - f/8, ISO200 and the fastest shutter speed that will work with your flash - drop the object into the water and fire the shutter as it hits.

Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox

Get the hottest deals available in your inbox plus news, reviews, opinion, analysis and more from the TechRadar team.

3. Shapes of bokeh

Out-of-focus orbs of light can add magic to any image, but the bokeh effect needn’t be limited to standard circles. From love hearts to stars, a simple cutout filter can transform background sparkles into brilliant shapes. 

Using your lens cap as a guide, draw a circle on a piece of card. Cut out the circle, score a small shape in the centre using scissors or a craft knife, then push the card onto the front of your lens (or attach it with an elastic band). When you next shoot a scene, any unfocused light will take the form of your shape. 

Use a wide aperture to maximize the effect and remember that, as the filter restricts the amount of light entering your lens, you’ll want to set a longer exposure or higher ISO. Try simple shapes such as triangles to get started, before progressing to stars, hearts, crosses and more.

4. Create smoke art

Smoke trails are a firm favourite among still-life photographers. But how about taking it to the next level and using the shapes in a creative Photoshop project. Once you've taken a few good smoke art photos, make a blank document in Photoshop, then copy and paste one of the smoke images into it. Set the blending mode to Screen and use Warp Transform to reshape it. Continue the process to combine a range of smoke shots into a new image.

5. DIY lightbox

Lightboxes are used to illuminate objects evenly against a plain background, often for the purposes of product or food photography. Luckily, you don’t have to have a pro budget to make one at home. All you need is a cardboard box, some white paper and a table lamp. 

Remove the top flaps, stand the box on one end and cut window holes in either side. Line the box with a single, seamless piece of white paper and cover the holes with thin paper or fabric, taped in place. Then it’s as simple as positioning a desk lamp on one or both sides: the paper will diffuse the light, evenly illuminating whatever object you put inside. 

Or for an even simpler setup, use a single piece of paper as the backdrop, with one white wall made from card, and position near a window (as pictured). Experiment with aperture and shutter speed to shoot subjects with totally white backgrounds or some shadow for a sense of perspective. Then mix things up with color backgrounds. If the quality is high enough, you could list your images for sale on a stock photography website to earn some lockdown pocket money.

6. Lubricate your lens

Want to give your housebound portraits added glow? If you have a spare lens filter lying around, try an old Hollywood trick: smear a layer of Vaseline on the glass to give your images a soft, dreamy look, keeping aperture wide to emphasize the ethereal effect with a shallow depth of field. 

Get experimental by leaving the middle of the filter free from Vaseline to create a halo effect, with the centre in clear focus but the outer elements blurry and soft. Don’t want to sacrifice a filter? Stretch cling-film tight across the lens and keep it in place with an elastic band, before using the Vaseline in the same way. If you’re not into portraits, try the effect when shooting a light source for a unique style of diffusion.

7. Make your own filters

It’s no secret that color is a major element of any image, but you don’t need expensive filters or editing software to experiment with saturation. In fact, you don’t even need to leave your home: all manner of household objects can function as color filters to bring new hues to your photography – and to transform mundane moments into brighter snaps. 

Attach tissue paper to your lens with an elastic band for an instant change of scene, or try shooting through thin fabric with a light source placed behind. Too easy? Take a snap through a laundry capsule for a liquid tone adjustment or use a whisky bottle for sepia shades with a hint of distortion. Petals are pretty effective, too, as are translucent sweet wrappers.

8. Try cross-polarization

This fun project exploits the effect that polarised light has on some plastics. You'll need two polarising filters - ideally one of these should be a sheet of polarising film. You can pick up an A4 sheet of Lee 239 polarising film for £50 (try www.robertwhite.co.uk or www.pnta.com ). The sheet of film should be placed on a lightbox or in front of the only light source. An iPad screen and most computer screens have a polarising filter built in, so if you don't have a sheet of polarising film you can always experiment by creating a white document to fill the screen. Simply attach the circular polariser to the camera lens and rotate it to make the colours appear in clear plastic items

9. Food landscapes

Spice up your food photography! All you need is a set of model figures - Hornby 00 gauge figures are perfect, as they're available in a wide range of poses. Preiser has a great range too. The most important aspect is to establish a sense of narrative. Here you can see that there's a conversation between the characters, with the mountaineer on the 'mash face' being helped by his colleagues on the ground.

10. Fine-art food

Try turning your dinner ingredients into photo art using just a lightbox and a very sharp knife. Slice fruit and vegetables as thinly and evenly as possible, then place them on the lightbox. With the camera positioned directly above, use Live View to focus manually on the details. Set an aperture of f/8 to give adequate depth of field, and dial in some exposure compensation of +1 to +3 stops as the bright light can fool the camera's meter into underexposure.

11. Flowers in ice

A relatively inexpensive way of taking 'kitchen sink' close-ups that look great blown up as wall art. Freeze flowers in plastic containers of distilled or de-ionised water (available through your local auto or hardware store). The flowers will float, so try to weigh them down or fasten them in place so that they freeze under the water. Place the block of ice on top of a clear bowl or glass in a white sink or plate, so that the light can bounce through from below. Position a flashgun off to one side, angled down towards it, and shoot from the opposite side.

12. Abstracts in oil

Oil floating on the surface of water is a great way to make striking abstracts. This table-top photo project exploits the refractive quality of oil and bubbles to accentuate and distort colours. All you need to do is place a few drops of cooking oil on the surface of water in a glass dish. Make sure the dish is supported about 25cm about the table top, then place coloured paper under it and use an anglepoise lamp or flashgun to light the paper.

13. Play with fire

It doesn’t take a pyromaniac to see the photographic potential of fire, but it does take patience, skill and plenty of precautionary measures to capture a stunning action shot of a match igniting. If you’d rather not risk singeing your fingertips, try a different type of flame photography.

Shooting by candlelight alone can lead to magical results. As with any single source of light, it allows you to experiment extensively with shadows – especially if you’re capturing a portrait – while the soft, warm tone and flicker of the flame both contribute to an especially ethereal effect.

In a darkened room, try shooting with a medium-high ISO and a relatively slow shutter speed. Start with just a candle and your subject, before introducing additional elements and playing with positioning. A nearby wall, for example, will throw the candlelight back in different ways, while glass will add to the magic with fiery reflections

Tweak shutter speed to affect the strength of shadows or try adding further flames – though you might need to adjust the white balance if things look more yellow than mellow.

14. Repaint the walls with camera obscura

Familiar with pinhole photography? That technique relies on camera obscura – a natural optical effect that occurs when a small hole in an otherwise sealed space (such as a box) projects an inverted image of the world outside onto the opposite wall. You could make a pinhole camera as an at-home project, or you could go even bigger: with the right setup, you can create the camera obscura phenomenon in an entire room. 

First, you’ll need to black out a room – for example, by taping opaque sheets over your windows. Then you’ll need to make an aperture through which light can enter; the smaller the hole, the sharper but dimmer the image. Camera obscura works best in small/medium rooms, with an aperture of around 10-15mm diameter. Allow your eyes to adjust and determine whether you need to brighten the image by making a larger hole, then marvel as an inverted version of the outside world appears on the wall. 

Capture the entirety of this remarkable natural effect using a wide angle, a relatively long exposure and a tripod, or focus on specific elements of your room to emphasis the effect – such as houses appearing to float upside down on your mantelpiece.

15. Camera tossing

Chucking your precious photographic equipment into the air might sound like something designed to void the warranty, but – provided you’re not too clumsy – camera tossing can deliver some truly spectacular results. Try it in a dark room with a single light source. Set a shutter speed of around one second (roughly the length of time it’ll be in the air) and, as the timer hits zero, launch it upwards. Catching it is the important part, but once you’re comfortable with the technique you can experiment with multiple light sources, different colors and even spinning your camera as you release it.

16. Psychedelic soap film

This is a wonderful project that makes for vibrant desktop wallpaper or abstract wall art. You'll need liquid soap mixed with glycerine for long-lasting soap film, plus a wire loop, a black cloth background and a macro lens of at least 100mm. The colours created by soap film only appear when hit by light from a certain angle, so set up near a north-facing window and shoot from around 45 degrees.

17. Refractive art

Light bends when it passes through water, causing the objects behind to change appearance. This is called refraction, and you'll make use of this phenomenon in this arty photo project. All you need is a few glasses, a flashgun, a tripod and a black-and-white pattern print. Simply place the pattern in the background with the glasses in front. Fill them with different levels of water and move the pattern backwards or forwards to fine-tune the effect.

18. Kitchen close-ups

Your kitchen is an ideal location for shooting a macro project. Its reflective surfaces can be used to create interesting backgrounds for your shots, and a shallow depth of field can transform the most mundane of objects you'll find there. Creating a triptych of images can result in a piece of fantastic wall art for your kitchen too, although it's important to think about how they're going to work together before you start shooting. Here, 3 objects - a fork, a bowl of cereal and coffee granules - were all shot from a similar angle, with the impression of height linking the sequence.

19. Invert the world with a crystal ball

Shoot through a crystal ball and, while you won’t see into the future, you will capture an inverted version of the scene behind the orb. Just as light is refracted when it passes through the glass elements of a lens, the same thing happens with a glass sphere. There are dedicated photography balls on the market, but the effect can often be achieved using a clear marble or even a paperweight. Nothing suitable? A water-filled wine glass can also work. 

All sorts of subjects look good through an orb, from sunsets and cityscapes to abstract items and even portraits. Try shooting with a macro lens to fill the frame with the sphere, or with a wider angle to include some of the scene behind. To really play with perspectives, rotate the image with editing software so that the background is inverted but the scene in the orb is the right way up.  You can also incorporate elements that support the ball into the image, such as hands, bowls or miscellaneous objects.

20. Still-life bokeh

Something as simple as a crumpled piece of foil can be the basis for a creative photo project. Position a still-life subject on a sheet of glass with a piece of dark material underneath it. Scrunch up the kitchen foil then smooth it back out and place it in the background. Shine a table lamp or torch on the foil and, with a tripod mounted camera, dial in the lens's widest aperture to create some beautiful ' bokeh '. During the exposure, shine a flashlight onto the subject.

21. Play with shadows

Photography is fundamentally about capturing light, which is exactly why shadows can be so powerful. They can create contrast with lighter parts of a composition or add texture to an otherwise plain subject. They can even be manipulated to tell a story. Incorporating shadows into your images will challenge you to think not just about the objects within a scene, but how things outside of the frame can affect the light that falls within it.

To play with shadows, all you need is a light source and a solid object to block it. This could be something natural, such as the shadow of a tree cast by sunlight. Equally, it could be something man-made, such as the outline of a street sign created by a car’s headlights. Or it could be something you create yourself: try playing puppet-master by shining a torch and dancing your hand in front of it. 

You can also invert this idea by shooting a subject which is predominantly in shadow and experimenting with how splashes of light fall upon it.

22. Still life light trails

Light trails can be used in all kinds of photography, but they're perfect for a creative still life project. You can use a regular Maglite torch, but try removing the end to reveal the bulb and make the light more direct. Use some electrical tape to attach a coloured sweet wrapper, which you can use as a makeshift 'gel'. Set the canera's shutter speed to around 30 secs with an aperture of around f/8, then start moving the torch within the frame before pressing the shutter. Continue the movement throughout the exposure. Here, we suspended the torch from a piece of string and made a gentle circular movement to create a spiral around the bottle.

23. Light spirals

You'll need to attach a torch, suspended by string, to an open area of ceiling. Fit the widest lens you have on your camera, and mount it on a tripod pointing straight up. With the light turned on, autofocus on the tip of the torch and set the lens to manual focus to lock the setting in. With an aperture of f/11 or f/16 dialled in, use Bulb mode and a remote release to keep the shutter open for a minute or so as you send the torch spinning in the dark…

• Best camera flash: dedicated flashguns for Canon and Nikon DSLR
• Best macro lens 2018: close-up lenses for Canon and Nikon DSLRs
• Macro lenses: how to choose one, and how to use it

Current page: Home photography projects

Formerly News Editor at Stuff, Chris has rarely been able to resist the bite of the travel bug – so he now writes about tech from the road, in whichever Wi-Fi-equipped café he can find. Fond of coffee kit, classic cars and sustainable gear, if there’s one thing Chris loves more than scribbling, shooting and sharing his way around the world, it’s alliterative triplets.

This luxury smart telescope will have you in awe of stars, solar systems, galaxies and nebulae in minutes

I played a photography simulator demo and it can't hold a candle to the real thing, but the Apple Vision Pro could change that

Quordle today – hints and answers for Saturday, March 30 (game #796)

Most Popular

By Ruth Jones March 22, 2024

By Will Hall March 22, 2024

By Olivia Powell March 22, 2024

By Charlotte Henry March 21, 2024

By Aatif Sulleyman March 21, 2024

By Will Hall March 21, 2024

By Jennifer Allen March 21, 2024

By Tom Wiggins March 21, 2024

By Andy Murray March 21, 2024

By Daniel Pateman March 19, 2024

By Will Hall March 19, 2024

• 2 Microsoft says Russian companies will be forced off its cloud services within days
• 3 A new phishing kit is targeting Gmail and Microsoft email accounts — and it can even bypass 2FA
• 4 Gear up for the AI gaming revolution with AORUS 16X and GIGABYTE G6X
• 5 Cambridge Audio's new ANC earbuds have a crucial feature Apple's earbuds can't compete with
• 2 The big Apple lawsuit explained: why Apple's getting sued and what it means for the iPhone
• 3 Microsoft has a potentially genius idea to make ray tracing work better even with lower-end GPUs
• 5 macOS isn’t perfect – but every day with Windows 11 makes me want to use my MacBook full-time

7 Fantastic At Home Photography Ideas to Ignite Your Creativity

by Karin van Mierlo | Photo Project , Photography Inspiration | 4 comments

Table of Contents show At Home Photography Ideas It’s a Win-Win All the Way #1 The One Object Project Make as many photos as you can Make only one photo 9 photos/1 object #2 The Visual Concept Project #3 The Alphabet Project #4 The Photo a Day Project #5 The Science Project #6 The Self-Portrait Project #7 The Precious Mess Project

At Home Photography Ideas

In the world of photography, sharpening your powers of observation is the key to becoming a better photographer.

Whether your inspiration comes from traveling the world, roaming the streets of your hometown, or venturing out into nature, the art of seeing is a universal practice that will elevate your images beyond the ordinary.

At home photography ideas & projects are a wonderful way to hone and refine this fundamental skill of photography.

In the comfort of your own home, you have the opportunity to delve deep into the ordinary and transform everyday objects and scenes into extraordinary photographic moments.

It’s a Win-Win All the Way

That’s why I’ve put together a list of seven captivating at home photography ideas.  Each project trains your eye to find beauty and meaning in the ordinary.

Not only will you become a better photographer, but you’ll also become a more mindful person in the process, as you cultivate a heightened sense of awareness while you’re photographing and in your daily life.

Examining your outside and inside world allows you to get into that much-desired mindful state. It will make you a more intentional photographer. As a result, your photography skills will improve as well. It’s a win-win all the way.

And on top of that, I can guarantee that by embarking on these at-home photography adventures, you’re in for a lot of fun!

#1 The One Object Project

Some things in life and photography may appear simple but can be a huge eye-opener. The 1 object project is one of those things. Trust me, if you’ve never done anything like it you’ll be amazed by what you can achieve with this project.

There are 3 approaches to this photography idea each with its own challenges and benefits. 

Make as many photos as you can

The first is to choose a simple object, let’s say a stool, a table, or a chair.

Make sure you can actually walk around it. Now go grab your camera and make as many different photos as you can.

To do that you need to walk around your subject, get on your knees, or stand on something to get a different point of view. You cannot change the object, the only thing you can do is change your point of view and your composition. Check out this post about the principles of composition to get inspired. 

Don’t stop until you’ve run out of ideas and you start to repeat yourself.

Make only one photo

The second approach is the total opposite.

Make sure you choose a different object now. It can be anything, big or small, doesn’t matter.

But now you can make only one photo! And I mean actually one photo.

To be clear, it doesn’t mean you can take 20 pictures and pick out one.

No no, no, you can press the shutter one time and one time only. So you better make it count.

And that’s the entire idea behind this project. We are so used to photographing without thinking and then when we’re done we pick out the best. 

With this project, you’re reversing that habit. Take a good look at your subject and observe it from all sides and angles. Describe it for yourself. 

Let’s take a flower as an example.

Start by describing the outer characteristics like color, petals, leaves, and stem.

Then describe the context of the flower. Is it in a vase, in the garden?

And last but not least determine the significance of the flower to you. 

Do you see what you’re doing? You’re creating a connection with your subject by specifying both outer and inner aspects. The next step is to figure out how you want to photograph that.

Think about it, then take your one precious shot. 

9 photos/1 object

The third approach is a great way to get out of a creative funk.

It’s the 9 photos/1 object project. It might seem similar to the first one but it’s not. I’ve described the entire process of this creative photography project in a previous article but I’ll give you a quick recap. 

The idea is to create 9 completely different photos of the same object. The difference with the first project is that this one is not so much about your point of view although that can be a starting point. Instead, it’s more about doing completely new things with it.

That’s why it’s important you choose an object you can alter in some shape or form like unpack, cut open, or even cook or break. 

It can be something that’s logical or fitting with the object. But to be honest the fun starts when you start to think out of the box which is exactly the point of this project. Don’t stop until you have at least 9 completely different photos.

About halfway you’re probably thinking: “Okay that’s it….my box of ideas is empty.” That’s the moment you need to stick with it.

Go with whatever crazy impulse pops up in your head. It’s important to go with your creative flow without second-guessing or judging it. We can be our own harshest critics but tell her to shush it and go with it. You will surprise yourself.

#2 The Visual Concept Project

This is one of those at home photography ideas that are a lot of fun and will sharpen your observation skills.

The idea is you set small assignments for yourself to photograph a specific concept.

To give you an idea, you decide in the morning to only photograph the color yellow. You photograph anything yellow you encounter during your day. If you wanna take this one step further you can only photograph yellow.

What happens is that you will start to see yellow all over the place. And that is how it trains your observation skills. I find it so interesting to experience how this works.

A friend of mine once called it the white Volkswagen effect. He was considering buying a white Volkswagen. All of a sudden he saw white Volkswagens everywhere. It’s not that the world was suddenly overflowing with more Volkswagens.

The only thing that changed was that he had a white Volkswagen on his mind and that’s what he saw in the world.

You can do this at home but when you’re on your way to do groceries for instance don’t stop paying attention to your surroundings. And don’t forget that your phone is great for shooting impromptu encounters on the road.

Let me give you a few examples but don’t let that hold you back to come up with your own concepts. 

#3 The Alphabet Project

Once you start to think about this project you can’t stop yourself. You make 26 pictures of things and ideas starting with the letters of the alphabet. For most letters it’s easy to come up with ideas but some are a little more challenging. Like the q or the z.

There are 2 levels in this project. You can choose tangible things for the different letters like Apple.

But you can also decide to capture less tangible things like feelings, emotions, and ideas. You’re only limited by your imagination. 

Let’s look at the letter C for instance.

You can go for the word Candle with is a tangible thing.

But you can also go for the word Connection which is less tangible. Translating the concept of connection into something we can see is taking it one step further.

If you want to challenge yourself you decide on one of the 2 levels beforehand and take that all the way to Z. But you can also mix and match of course. 

#4 The Photo a Day Project 

This is a well-known project and its goal is to simply get you photographing. There are a lot of ways to approach this.

Most important is to actually commit to a time period. If you don’t you’ll lose momentum. Whether it’s for a week, 21 days, a month or an entire year decide, commit, and then stick to it. 

The challenge is of course not only sticking to it but to make every photo count.

Because it’s not very difficult to take a picture every day. I’m sure most of us already do that without even thinking about it. That’s not the point of this project.

Before you press the shutter think about what it is you’re capturing.

Why do you want to photograph it?

What does it mean to you? What are you trying to convey?

Think of this project as your visual diary and be thoughtful of what to put in it. Creating a sketchbook of your day to day life is very valuable. Especially in challenging times like we are experiencing right now. 

#5 The Science Project

This is a project that’s very close to my heart. To be honest, they all are but this one is extra special. Because I love to photograph movement in a motionless object. 

But let me start by explaining what this photography idea is all about. Over a period of time, you’re gonna photograph the downfall of food or flowers.

Sounds depressing? It’s the opposite actually. Because it opens you up for the beauty of the process. 

When you’re hovering over a pear with your camera in hand and photograph the day to day deterioration you start to develop warm feelings for it.

You start to see how beautiful her journey from young, fresh pear to being all shriveled up is. Remind you of something? 

So buy a pear or anything else that’s perishable, cut it open, put it on a platter, and watch it for a few weeks. Your commitment is to follow the process and make photos every day. 

The key is to keep the circumstances the same. When every photo has the same light source, props, and framing the journey becomes more visible. 

#6 The Self-Portrait Project

Oh no, no, no, I’m not talking about a selfie here. Self-portraiture has a longstanding tradition in the arts. So try to get a bit more into that flow and use your self-portraiture time for some introspection. 

First make sure you’re alone. It’s you and your camera. Commit to not holding anything back. To make it easier you have my permission to never ever show your self-portrait to anyone if you don’t want to. 

Again you can take several approaches for this at home photography idea. 

You can go all-in if you have the equipment to do so and mount your camera on a tripod and set up some lighting. It’s what I did for the self-portrait I recently made. You can read all about it in 7 steps to a powerful self-portrait and a confidence boost.  

You can take a more documentary approach and document an aspect of your day to day life. Using mirrors or other reflecting surfaces is a great way to play with this approach.

You can stage scenes to tell stories about your life, your emotions, or whatever else is occupying your mind. This is the moment to unleash your inner actress. Someone who took this to an entirely new level is Cindy Sherman . If you’re attracted to this approach you should check her out. She’s awesome.

#7 The Precious Mess Project

Otherwise known as the Day in the Life project.

But I prefer to call the precious mess project. Because it sets you up from the start to not iron out the messy bits and pieces in your day.

You know what, it’s those messy moments that you look back to 10 years from now that put a smile to your face. Trust me! 

Because life gets a little messy from time to time. Your kid is gonna throw a tantrum. Your living room will be flooded with laundry. The dining room table will be covered with piles of work stuff. Your kitchen will be full of leftover dishes. And the bathroom is sure to be a warzone after bathtime. 

Document it because it is the life you’ll have forgotten about years from now. And at the same time, it is what we cherish the most right now.

It’s not the picture in front of the Christmas tree taken by your uncle. Or the family portrait all in the same clothes at the beach using a self-timer and a tripod. It just isn’t. 

This is probably the most challenging of all the at home photography ideas. Not in the least because it puts you in a different role.

Whatever the circumstances of your life are you need to get out of it and into an observing state.

You need to let go and let life unfold in front of your lens. Unless unsafe things are happening you cannot interfere.  

This might be a few steps out of your comfort zone but when you stick to it it’s gonna be so rewarding. Once you’ve done this for a day you’re gonna want to do this on a regular basis. 

All of a sudden you notice you have your camera ready and close by for the tiniest of precious moments! 

For loads of more information about this photo project, check out my tutorial for photographing children documentary style and my article full of candid photography tips.

Wanna immerse yourself in the mindful nature of photography? Check out See Fresh | Mindful Photography Course!

Did that get your creative juices flowing or what? Let us know in the comments which project you’re gonna take on first!

Did you try one of the projects? Share your photos on Instagram and mention @photography-playground !

👇 Get the Mindful Photography Playbook for more photography projects 👇

Hi, I’m Karin

Your Photography Mentor

You want to pick up your camera with confidence and joy but the truth is your camera is a mystery to you .

You’re stuck in auto mode because you don’t want to miss the moments that matter while you’re fumbling with your settings.

I feel you and I’m here to tell you it doesn’t have to be this way . Join Photography Playground now for overwhelm-free training and creative empowerment!

“Her unique approach produced almost immediate results. I would highly recommend Karin as a warm, talented, and effective instructor.”

“See Fresh shifted my perspective and gave me a much-needed reminder of the beauty each day brings. It brought back freshness and zest for life.”

“Thank you Karin for your presence, generosity, and patience. I am excited to see where this photographic journey takes me!”

“Your approach to photography inspires me and is wonderful to read. In contrast to all those websites and books about technology and gear, your approach opens a completely different door for me. Instead of reasoning, it triggers my imagination.”

“Great examples were given to illustrate what we would try to capture via the prompts.  Most of all Karin and the other students were very supportive – a no-judgment zone.”

Recent Posts

7 Great Tips for Landscape Photography: A Beginner’s Guide

by Karin van Mierlo | Travel Photography | 0 Comments

Tips for Landscape Photography Welcome to the wonderful world of landscape photography, where you can capture the awe-inspiring wonders of nature with fantastic landscape photos. This genre offers a unique opportunity to connect with the world around us and...

Luminar Neo Review | Your Images, Your Way

by Karin van Mierlo | Edit & Organize | 0 Comments

Luminar Neo Review For the past few weeks, I've been testing new editing software based in part on artificial intelligence. My in-depth Luminar Neo review walks you through the workflow, pros and cons, AI-powered tools, ethical...

Quick and Easy Steps to Start Post-Processing for Beginners

by Manthan Gajjar | Edit & Organize | 0 Comments

Post-Processing for Beginners Photography is a trade where almost every part of the process is equally important and plays an important role in getting the best result. Post-processing is the last step and one of the game-changing steps of getting the perfect...

Powerful Silhouette Photography in 5 Simple Steps

by Karin van Mierlo | Photography 101 | 0 Comments

Silhouette Photography Silhouette photography is a beautiful and dramatic way to capture a scene or subject. By taking advantage of the contrast between the subject and the background, you can create striking storytelling images that emphasize shape, form,...

Creative Props and Accessories for Indoor Portrait Photography

by Photowhoa | People Photography | 2 Comments

Indoor Portrait Photography Indoor portrait photography allows you to capture striking images of your subject in a setting that is free from the distractions of the outdoor world. However, taking beautiful and creative indoor portraits requires a little more...

• Composition
• Edit & Organize
• Mindful Photography
• People Photography
• Phone Photography
• Photo Challenge
• Photo Project
• Photography 101
• Photography Inspiration
• Photography Quotes
• Profitable Photography
• Travel Photography

Photography Courses

Free ebooks

You might also like…

10 Reasons Why Photography is Beneficial for Mental Health

by Jenn Pereira | Photography Inspiration , Mindful Photography | 20 Comments

Mental Health Benefits of Photography Note by Karin van Mierlo on the updated version. This article was first...

Splendid Tree Photography | 10 Inspiring Tips & Ideas

by Karin van Mierlo | Mindful Photography , Photography Inspiration | 0 Comments

Tree Photography Trees are wonderful subjects and often combine time spend in nature with photography, making...

15 Fantastic Summer Photography Ideas For Happy Sunny Shots

by Karin van Mierlo | Photography Inspiration , Travel Photography | 0 Comments

Summer Photography Ideas The summer season is here! The ideal time to try out new things and get creative. I...

Thanks for sharing these…I often struggle with a block about what is a worthwhile subject but these exercises are going to be helpful in overcoming that.

So glad I could help!

I think simply choosing an awkward focal length and only taking photos at that focal length can be a good challenge. Or maybe you could choose a very slow shutter speed that throws up challenges. Taking you out of your comfort zone is a quick way to learning. Necessity is the mother of invention.

Totally agree!

Submit a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Submit Comment

• Photography Articles
• Camera Buying Guide
• Lens Buying Guide
• How to Learn Photography
• Time Lapse Photography
• Learn & Explore Photography
• How to Articles
• Holiday Gift Guides
• Photography Blog
• Color Management
• Travel Guides
• Astrophotography
• Free Photography eBooks
• Real Estate Photography
• Bird & Wildlife Photography
• Tip of the Week
• Photography Quotes
• Best Canvas Print Company
• Best Workshops & Tours 2020/2021
• Photography Glossary
• Photography Lighting
• Drone Photography
• Portrait Photography Tips
• Beginner Photography Tips
• Best Large Print Companies
• Gallery Home
• Latest Uploaded
• View by Categories
• Inspirational Photos
• Upload Your Photos
• Photography Forum Home
• Latest Posts
• Search Photography Forum
• General Discussion
• Taking The Photo & Editing
• Photo Galleries & Critiques
• General Manufacturers
• Equipment Research
• Recommended Vendor
• Camera Bags
• Camera Straps
• Maternity Gear
• Community Badges
• Get Metal Prints
• PT Scholarship
• Member Interviews
• 30 Day Creative Eye Challenge
• Bird Photography Mastery Course
• Business Builder Mastery Course
• Landscape Photography Mastery Course
• Travel Photography Mastery Course
• Portrait Photography Mastery Course

Remember me

• Forgot Username?
• Forgot Password?

12 Photo Projects You Can Do From Home During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Photoshoot Ideas At Home

Now that the COVID-19 pandemic is global and most of us are practicing social distancing to help flatten the curve, that leaves many of us with a lot of downtime.

With things like proms and graduations and weddings postponed, photographers the world over are feeling the pinch of reduced business because of the virus.

But rather than sitting around worrying about what this means for your finances - which, by the way, I've been doing  a lot the last few days - it's probably a good idea to take some time to focus your mind and attention on some photography projects that can help you become a better photographer.

Part of becoming an improved photographer is understanding how to challenge yourself to put the skills you already have to the test and acquire new skills that will allow you to expand your boundaries as a photographer.

But what many photographers seem to think is that in order to find a challenge, one must travel to far-off locations to find material worthy of a photo. In this day and age, that's not a possibility, so turning inward and finding things to photograph at home is a must for photographers affected by coronavirus.

In that spirit, we’ve put together a list of simple home-based photography projects that you can easily do in your downtime and that will help you become the photographer you want to be.

Now, these don’t just ask you to try typical around-the-house projects like “photograph your children playing” or “create a still-life photo of a household object.” Instead, these projects try to get you to think more outside the box so you come away with more creative photography ideas at home - and better skills too.

Give one or two a try, or challenge yourself to try all 12. Either way, there’s plenty to do in your own backyard to improve your photography during COVID-19. Here are some photoshoot ideas at home:

Photo Ideas For Food

It’s easy enough to snap a photo of your dinner with your smartphone. For this project, however, try to turn your food - or better still - the ingredients you use to make a meal - into a fine art photo .

Whether it’s julienned carrots, slices of apple, or little piles of spices, get in close with your camera directly above the ingredients, get sharp focus using your camera’s live view function, and fire away. Just be sure you have enough lighting (and even lighting to minimize shadows).

Get more details on how to photograph food at home in the video above by Sean Tucker .

Tweet These 12 DIY Photo Projects

A-Z Photos: A Perfect Photo Project for Home

Nothing challenges your photographic creativity than having to hunt for a subject that corresponds to each letter of the alphabet. For a fun twist, photograph concepts that represent more difficult letters - a horse galloping in a field could represent Q for quick.

Over the course of a series of 26 photos, you’ll be challenged to find subject matter (let’s face it...X and Z are difficult!). But not only that, you’ll develop your photographer’s eye in the process.

Part of learning the craft of photography is seeing subjects worthy of photographing where other people do not. This project will help you do just that. Plus, this is one of the best home-based photography projects because it takes a lot of time off the clock.

Go Black and White

Like the A-Z photo project, shooting only in black and white will help develop your creative eye, but in a different way.

Because of their lack of color, black and white photos depend on other factors , namely, lines, patterns, textures, shapes, and, of course, light and shadows, to retain the interest of viewers. Thus, learning to see in black and white is an important skill not just for black and white photos, but for color photography too. After all, it’s often those fine details that make a good photo a great photo!

So, with that in mind, try a weeklong or two-week black and white challenge. No matter what subjects you capture, look for the elements listed above to try and elevate your photos.

Get some excellent black and white photography tips in the video above by Jamie Windsor .

Capture Oil & Water

Test your ability to create some abstract art by photographing oil and water.

Put a colorful cloth or piece of paper on a table. Place several drops of cooking oil into a clear, glass dish of water, then set the dish on top of the cloth or paper. Then, add a light source - a flash or even an incandescent lamp that can be angled - and capture the striking interaction of these elements.

The results, like the image above, can be breathtaking! Plus, you’ll acquaint yourself with creating abstract photos, and you can begin to build close-up or macro photography skills as well.

Create a Photo Scavenger Hunt

If you want to expand your photography skills, a photo scavenger hunt is a great activity. It's also one of the best things that photographers affected by coronavirus can do to occupy their time.

If you're social distancing at home with your family, have each member of the group come up with a list of things to find and photograph, put them into a hat, and pick out a dozen or so subjects. Then, find each subject and fire away!

If you're social distancing on your own, get a group text going with your photography pals, solicit ideas for items to hunt for, and each of you can search your own homes for those items. Share the photos you take and offer critiques of one another's work.

Photoshoot Ideas At Home - Work With Water

All you need for this project is a container of water with a small hole that allows small drops to fall through, a good lighting source (like natural light through a window), a nondescript background, and a camera setup just right to capture the drops in midair.

It’s a simple enough idea, but is a fairly complex process of getting the lighting, the timing, and the camera settings just right. But those are good things for you - the more you practice adjusting your camera’s exposure settings, for example, the quicker you’ll be able to make adjustments for all types of photos. That’s learning that has wide applicability!

First Man Photography has a great tutorial on water droplet photography. Check it out in the video above for the complete steps from start to print.

Photography Ideas At Home: Practice Shallow Depth of Field

Mastering depth of field is just one of many important photography concepts that will take your images to the next level.

Using a shallow depth of field is a common practice in portraiture because it allows you to draw the viewer’s eye to the subject. That is, with a shallow depth of field, the background becomes nicely blurred, allowing the subject of the photo to take center stage.

Fortunately, you can practice this skill in the comfort of your own home. Just open the aperture to a wide value (i.e., f/2.8, or as wide as the lens will go), place your subject a good distance from the background, and take a position close to the subject, and voila - you’ll have a blurry background that totally changes the look of your portraits!

Learn more about aperture and depth of field in the video above by Chris Bray Photography .

Use the “Wrong” Lens

Something that can stall your creativity as a photographer is to get shoehorned into using a particular kind of lens in a particular kind of setting. A great way to break out of that is to purposefully use a lens that typically isn’t recommended for the type of photos you’re taking.

For example, I might pose my kid in the backyard, and instead of using a portrait lens like my Canon RF 85mm f/1.2  with my Canon EOS R , I might photograph him at the wide end of my 15-35mm f/2.8  to create some pleasing environmental portraits. Using a telephoto lens like the Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8 to take portraits of the family dog is another option. I might also visit a nearby landscape and forego the wide-angle lens in favor of a macro to get up-close shots of smaller details.

In doing so, you’ll be able to see everyday subjects in a whole new light and develop your photographer’s eye that much more.

Creative Photoshoot Ideas - Look Down

When we take photographs, it’s natural to look outward at our own eye level. But if every shot you take is from this point of view, they will soon start to all look the same.

Spice things up by changing your perspective and looking at your feet for photograph-worthy subjects. This isn’t just an exercise in looking down, though. Instead, this challenge will help you to become more observant - to look for little details that can be highly impactful in an image.

It also helps you become more adept at mastering angles and points of view - you might take a shot of something on the ground from directly above or you might get on the ground yourself and provide viewers with a worm’s eye view of the scene.

Whatever the case, the more you look around and find new points of view, the more interesting your images will be.

Home Photography - Go Minimal

Perhaps one of the hardest things to do as a photographer is to learn to thin the herd, so to speak, and compose images that are simple.

Going minimal is hard because we don’t see minimal scenes with our own eyes - whether it’s our living room, our backyard, or the view from the front porch, we’re bombarded with stimuli, so it’s natural that we tend to create images with all that stimuli included.

But, instead of incorporating absolutely everything into a single image, try to exclude all the clutter and focus on a single, strong subject. All photos benefit from a strong subject, so this project will result in better photos whether they are minimalist or not!

Give the video above by Mango Street a quick watch and learn how to use negative space in your photos.

Work in Low Light

Taking photos in low light is a scary proposition for many photographers because with less light, you have to work a little harder to get the camera settings that will result in a pleasing photo.

But that extra level of work will benefit you in the end because mastering the manipulation of aperture, shutter speed, and ISO not only helps you photograph scenes in low light, but will also help you photograph scenes across all levels of lighting.

Again, the more you practice manipulating your camera’s settings, the more natural and intuitive those adjustments will become. Then, no matter if you’re shooting at midday or at dusk, you’ll have the confidence to dial in the appropriate settings.

Photograph the Mundane

Perhaps the ultimate home-based photography challenge is to make a gorgeous photo out of mundane, everyday objects or scenes.

Without an inspiring subject or great lighting or interesting details, the onus of creating an eye-catching photo falls even more on your skills as a photographer. Instead of relying on vibrant colors or unique subject matter, you have to trust your compositional skills to frame up a shot that will be pleasing to the viewer’s eye.

By using the skills you develop in the other 11 projects on our list, you will be even more likely to capture the beauty inherent in the humdrum events of everyday life.

Besides, appreciating the small things isn't a bad thing as we all deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. As you tackle these projects, do so carefully and with the health of you, your friends, and family in mind.

Not sure what to photograph next?

Go through our 30-Day Creative Eye Challenge and discover the long last secrets to finding awesome shots, anywhere, anytime (with any camera).

We Recommend

• Maternity Photography
• Portrait Photography Master Course

• Student Successes
• My Learning

How to Take Creative Photos (100+ Creative Ideas)

You can also select your interests for free access to our premium training:

Creative photography is about putting ideas into practice and seeing awesome results from unexpected setups.

We have collected our top articles to guide you in your creative photography adventures!

If you buy a product through one of our referral links we will earn a commission (without costing you anything). Prices last updated on .

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.

Get Started With Creative Still Life Photography

Beginners guide to shooting still life photography.

Still life photography is an excellent way to dive into creative photography and improve your photography skills .

You are in control of every single aspect. It gives you more freedom than any other photography genres. And you don’t even need a lot of fancy equipment.

In this article , we’ve got some great case studies to help you get started.

10 Easy and Fun Still Life Photography Ideas

You don’t need any complicated gear or rare props for amazing creative photography. The most important thing you need is an inspiration and a good idea to start with.

We collected ten easy and fun creative photography ideas that you can do at home. You can try playing around with patterns or shapes. You can include chalk drawings to make your images look fun. Or you can play with food or coffee.

For the rest of the ideas, read our post here .

10 Great Tips for Shooting Still Life Photography

So the ideas above inspired you to jump into creative still life photography. But where and how should you start?

Well, you need to start with the equipment. What type of lens should you use for your creative still life images? What about other essential equipment, like a tripod ? We suggest getting one to have consistent results. A tripod also frees up your hand, which can be crucial when you start to experiment with dynamic creative images.

Want to know the rest of the essential tips to start shooting creative photography? Check out this article .

8 Still Life Composition Tips for Photographers

As a beginner photographer, we hear way too many rules and have to learn a lot of academic knowledge. But often what we need is practical tips, instead of all the theory.

For example, you can use simple shapes like triangles or curves as templates for your composition. Or use balance and symmetry to draw the viewer’s eye.

We have a few more composition tips to help you improve your creative photography skills. And you can forget those mainstream composition rules for a little bit!

How to Use Complementary Colors in Photography

One of the easiest yet most effective ways to create eye-catching creative images is the combination of colors.

Some colors pair well together and create visually pleasing results.

Complementary colors are on the opposite of each other on the color wheel. They create the strongest possible contrast, which leads to vivid and energised effects.

There are a few popular complementary color pairings, like red and green or yellow and purple.

Learn more about using complementary colors in your photography.

25 Stunning Examples of Complementary Colors

You might need more inspiration and photography ideas for using complementary colors in your images. Think about red and green, which appear so often in our surroundings.

A strawberry or a ladybug are excellent examples. But it’s not by chance that Christmas decorations are combinations of red and green.

Or think about orange and blue. Both colors are associated with strong and opposing concepts. Warmth and cold or fire and ice.

Check out this article with 25 stunning examples to find more creative inspiration.

How to Use Contrasting Colors in Photography (With Stunning Examples!)

If an image has contrasting colors, it easily catches and draws the viewer’s eye. In photography, we can talk about two types of contrast.

One is tonal contrast which deals with the difference between the darkest and lightest tone in the picture, regardless of the hue.

The other type is the color contrast which refers to the difference between the hues.

But how can you build contrast in your image? When using contrasting colors, it’s a smart idea to keep everything simple. You can also highlight your subject by using contrasting colors. Or use simple shapes and pure tones.

Want to know more about using color contrast in photography? Read this detailed article.

How to Use Color Contrast in Photography: Orange and Blue

Orange and blue are the most common complementary color pairs in photography. The reason is that combining these two colors results in the most notable contrast.

The combination is so popular that even filmmakers have a special term for it: ‘amber and teal’. Orange and blue look fantastic because they create a great contrast and also emphasise each other.

Now you know why it is good to use orange and blue combinations in creative photography. Learn how you can use it in your images.

5 Tips for Black and White Still Life Photography

If you want to take your creative photography skills to the next level, you should experiment with black and white photography.

Without colors, you can highlight shapes and textures more in your image. You can do this by playing with the angles of the light.

Black and white photography is also an excellent opportunity for visual storytelling. You only have to select the right subject like jewellery from an elderly relative, a children’s book or shells from your beach walk.

For more creative black and white photography tips, read this article .

8 Tips for Perfect Flat Lay Photography

Creative photography isn’t only about composition or colors. It is also about angles.

Flat lay images allow space for a lot of creativity. You can go for a minimalist style and photograph only a few subjects. Or you can arrange a lot of objects in the frame, and create organised chaos.

Managing negative space is another way to improve your creative flat lay photography. For example, you can fill the frame with small objects and leave empty spaces that form letters, adding up to a message.

What Is Conceptual Photography? 32 Inspiring Examples

Conceptual photography offers the perfect opportunity to express yourself with symbols, ideas and themes. Conceptual photography allows you to make the most of your creative freedom.

How to Create a Storyboard for Photography

Preparing for a creative photography photoshoot can feel overwhelming and chaotic sometimes. A storyboard can make the preparation process much easier and more efficient.

A storyboard has information about the scene, the location, the camera equipment and the techniques. It contains many squares with pictures and illustrations that represent each shot. There are often notes and comments too.

To learn how to create a storyboard for your photoshoot, read on here .

Creative Photography Ideas in the Kitchen

You don’t have to find a fancy studio or an extreme location for your creative photography. Your kitchen might have the perfect ingredients and subject for a creative photoshoot.

Food is a simple and available subject that allows for a lot of creative freedom. Follow our recipe for creative photography!

10 Ideas for Creative Cookie Photography

Cookies are excellent subjects because you can tell various stories with them. Plus, they are easier to photograph than cakes or other pastries. So they are also perfect for beginners in food photography.

Start your cookie photography with a plan that is based on your photo shoot’s goal. Choose a character who is making the cookies. You would design a different scene for a granny’s bakery and for a professional chef.

Think about the location where you want to showcase the cookies too. Are you going to photographs them in the kitchen? Or maybe at a birthday party in the park? The location choice will also influence the set up of your cookie photo shoot.

9 Best Techniques for Taking Amazing Coffee Photography

Coffee goes very well with cookies, so let’s learn more about creative coffee photography. The subject is simple but it has a lot of creative potentials.

For example, you can showcase the details or the ingredients of a coffee-based drink. Capture a cappuccino with coffee beans, ground coffee, a glass of milk and with cinnamon powder around it.

Or draw with coffee beans and add exciting typography to your pictures. But you can also add motion like splashes or steam to your creative coffee photography .

How to Create Magical Still Life Photos With DIY Flour Clouds

You can also opt for the most basic ingredients and use them as your creative photography subjects. Why don’t you give it a try and photograph flour clouds?

You can create beautiful clouds by throwing flour in the air. But it’s a bit trickier than you might think. You cannot control the motion of the flour. And often it falls in ugly chunks rather than in dreamy clouds.

The good news is that we have a step-by-step tutorial on how to create DIY flour clouds that make your creative photo look magical.

How to Photograph Glass: 8 Tricks to Improve Your Glass Photography

Glassware is a simple object to capture, and you surely have one glass item at home. But taking photos of glass is often a nightmare for photographers.

There are a few tips that can help you take amazing glass photography. You can use a backlight to combat unwanted reflections.

You can also photograph the glass in front of a black background. This way, you can create a stunning white glowing outline of the glass.

For the rest of the eight tricks read this article .

How to Create Cool Broken Glass Photography

Talking about glass photography, why not try and photograph broken glass? You can turn the glass ruins into a piece of art and amaze everyone with your creative photography.

Broken objects are charming because they all have a story. And you can tell this story with your photos.

To create cool broken glass photography, you only need a few simple props and no fancy equipment. Read our step-by-step tutorial to build your scene and take awesome shots.

How to Shoot Creative Reflections in Drinks (All In-Camera!)

If you don’t want to break anything but still want to play in the kitchen, you can photograph creative reflections in drinks.

The most important thing you need is a big source of soft light. This can be window light, a diffuser or a softbox. Find a constant light source so it will be easier to see the reflections in the drink.

Read on for the whole process of shooting creative reflections drinks.

How to Photograph Levitating Coffee Splashes

Photographing splashes is fun and makes your creative images look unique. With a couple of props and a few photography equipment, you can create entertaining scenes.

You will need two strobes or speedlights to freeze the splashes. It’s not the short shutter speed that is freezing the motion but the short flash duration.

Here is our guide for photographing levitating coffee splashes.

Creative Photography Ideas With Everyday Objects

There are lots of everyday objects around us that make awesome subjects for creative photography.

How to Use Paint in Water Technique for Cool Liquid Photography

You can create amazing paint shapes with only a few simple ingredients. Gather a small fish tank, acrylic paint, syringes, the main subject and supports to keep your main subject at its place.

Before starting to put everything into practice , plan your scene and the story you want to tell. Abstract pain clouds look nice, but you can get much more creative.

You can choose fruits, vegetables or flowers to turn them into a colourful dissolving cloud. Or pour some paint into a long drink glass and prepare a cloud cocktail.

7 Tips for Creating Magical Still Life With Smoke Photography

Smoke looks mystical and cryptic and makes your creative photography very exciting. You can add smokey effect in post-processing but why don’t you create smoke on set? It’s much more fun, and the end results look stunning.

The good news is that you can create smoke by using a bunch of incense sticks.

Check out our step-by-step tutorial and set up a magical scene with only a few props.

How to Take Powerful Fire Photography Shots’

‘Where there’s smoke, there’s fire’, they say. So after the smoke photography tutorial, it is about time to talk about fire photography.

The beauty of fire and flames is undeniable. And you can use simple objects like a fireplace or a candle to photograph fire.

When it comes to fire photography, you have a lot of creative options to tale photos. You can capture sharp and detailed fire images. To achieve this, use a narrow aperture like f/8 or larger.

But you can also use fire as creative and cosy lighting for portrait photography. Or capture silhouettes in front of a bonfire.

For more fire photography ideas, check this post .

18 Tips for Beautiful Jewelry Photography

Everyone has some kind of jewelry at home. They make stunning subjects, and you can tell wonderful stories with them in your creative photography.

There are two kinds of jewelry photography: product & e-commerce photography and editorial photography. The latter is the one that allows more creativity in your images.

When you photograph jewelry, try to think about the story you want to tell with your photo.

Read on for camera settings, lighting and other tips for beautiful jewelry photography.

10 Creative Tricks for Shooting Photos of Toys

Toys are fun and remind us of our innocent childhood. Children can play with a simple toy for hours, creating stories and living in a fantasy world. And as a photographer, you can recreate this imaginative world.

You can photograph different kinds of toys. Lego toys, dolls, action figures, toy cars or Barbie dolls. And all of them offer excellent visual storytelling opportunities.

You can take toy photos indoors or outdoors, using your environment to help to build your scene.

Need more ideas? Check out our article on toy photography.

How to Use Smoke Grenades and Smoke Bombs for More Exciting Photos

Smoke grenades and smoke bombs are toys for adults only. You can play around with them and get fantastic creative photos as results.

The first thing you have to keep in mind is safety. Never use them around children or animals. Always pour water on the smoke bombs after you used them. Be aware that some smoke bombs leave stains.

When you ensured that you have the right location and the right weather conditions, it’s time to have fun with smoke grenades and smoke bombs.

Scanography – What It Is and Why You Should Try It Today

Do you have a flatbed scanner at home? Then you have another excellent opportunity to take your creative photography ideas to the next level!

You can use a flatbed scanner to scan 3D objects and turn them into images. You only have to remove or prop open the lid and arrange the objects on the scanner’s glass surface.

You can scan flowers, plants, rocks or even moving metal bike parts. Your creativity is the only limit for scanography.

Here you can read the in-depth information about how to do scanography.

10 Awesome Tips for Photographing Neon Signs

Neon signs are all around us, and they make eye-catching subjects for creative photography.

Their brightness can make neon sign photography challenging. But it is the perfect opportunity to improve your nighttime photography skills.

To get the best results, take photos of neon signs at night. If it’s after a rainy day, even better! You can look for creative reflections.

Read this article for more tips on neon sign photography.

10 Cool Ways to Use Your Speedlight

Speedlight is a simple piece of photography equipment that you can use in various creative ways. You can use it as your main light source.

You can also a speedlight behind your subject, creating a glowing silhouette. You can even create your own moon with a sheet of black paper and a speedlight behind it.

Speedlights can make objects glow from the inside. Or they can help you capture rising steam or smoke. How? Read the details here .

DIY Creative Photography Ideas

Besides using simple objects, you can also find fantastic DIY ideas to enhance your creative photography.

How to Make a Cool Hand Painted Background for Photography

Every image needs a background, so why not creating your own cool hand-painted one? It’s easy, cheap and unique.

If you want to make sure that your DIY background will last, use acrylic paint. You can use it on almost every surface. And it provides excellent coverage.

Read this article for more tips and to learn how to paint light, dark, outer space DIY backgrounds.

7 Great Alternatives to a White Photo Background

Okay, so you might not be into painting backgrounds. There are still ways to get creative and find more interesting alternatives than a white photo background.

When you are looking for a background, it should have the right texture and colour. Plus, it shouldn’t cost you a fortune because there are enough things to spend money on as a photographer.

For example, you can use wooden boards. They are affordable and versatile. And look very natural in your photos. You can find one-piece boards or versions that you have to assemble. But you can also use a piece of wooden furniture or a barn door.

Try These 10 Easy (and Awesome!) DIY Photography Props Today!

DIY props are excellent both for beginner and for professional photographers. You can vary them as you like, they are affordable and make your photos look more unique.

When you make something from nothing, your creative skills and imagination develop. That is beneficial for your photography too.

And you don’t need fancy equipment for DIY projects. You can turn light bulbs into flower pots to spice up your image.

Or you can creative fluffy clouds by using pillow stuffing and glue. Check out other easy and awesome DIY photography prop ideas .

8 Great Tips for Using Typography or Text in Photography

Using typography and adding text to your images can spice up your creative photography game.

You can use traditional tools like pencils, ink, pens or paint. But you can also create your own travel stickers to match the photo’s atmosphere.

Or you can use coffee beans and form letters from them. This way, the text will be your main subject or model.

And how about using chalkboard writing and combining it with real objects? Click here to read more great tips for using text in photography .

Creative Photography Ideas for Every Season

Every season has its unique charm. And a lot of opportunities to get your imagination moving and find new creative ideas for pictures.

Spring Photography Ideas for When You’re Bored

Spring is the perfect time to experiment and try new things. It brings an extreme change in the scene with its flowers, leaves and sunnier days.

You could pick one prop and go for a walk, taking images of the same object in different spring environment. Or you could explore the tiny world of the flowers popping up everywhere.

It’s raining outside, and you don’t know what to do? Go out and take spring photos in the rain! But you can also mimic the rain in your warm and cosy studio. Here is how to do it.

12 Fun and Creative Easter Photography Ideas to Try

Easter is the perfect spring holiday when the family gathers together, and there are food, fun and people around you. They all offer excellent opportunities for creative photography ideas.

You can take colourful flower photographs as well. Go to the local flower market or to a field full of beautiful plants, and capture the newborn nature.

Want more fun and creative Easter ideas? Read them here .

17 Awesome Summer Photography Ideas to Try Yourself

Summer is full of adventures and exciting programs. Why don’t you capture the season on your photographs as well?

A picnic is an amazing opportunity to take creative summer pictures. You can photograph the details of the picnic basket or take fantastic group photos.

If you are into sports photography , summer is the perfect time to practice your skills. Capture surfers, windsurfers or people cliff jumping into the sea. Or go take photos of skaters, bikers and runners.

Find more inspiration for summer photography ideas here .

How to Shoot Creative Still Life Photography for Halloween

Halloween is full of mystical, spooky and fun creative photography ideas. You would decorate your house anyway, why not set up a cool Halloween scene?

You can capture the Jack-o’-lantern you carved and use it as your main hero. Use artificial spiders, old books, brooms and potion bottles as props.

Or you can capture Halloween candies, cookies or pumpkin pies if you are into food photography. Read this post to learn how to set up a creative Halloween scene from scratch.

10 Christmas Inspired Ideas for Still Life Photography

After autumn is gone, winter comes with its cold and darkness. And Christmas spirit, of course! This holiday is full of lights, sparklers, food, decoration and cosy scenes. All of them are excellent bases for creative photography ideas.

You don’t even have to create a specific photo scene to take pictures. You can capture moments that are part of your holiday celebrations.

Get some inspiration here , and take your Christmas photography to the next level.

Christmas Cookies Photos: How to Take Levitating Still Life Photos Full of Cheer

Sure, you can take creative flat lay pictures of Christmas cookies. But why don’t you get more adventurous and take levitating photos of them? They will convey the true Christmas magic vibes.

Levitating objects add dynamics to the scene. And they look super fun!

You might think that it’s enough to grab a handful of cookies and drop them while you put your camera in Burst mode.

But that would be only good for wasting your delicious cookies. Instead, you have several other solutions.

Follow our tutorial to construct your levitating cookie-scene.

How to Use Sparklers to Create Otherworldly Still Life Photography

Sparklers are essential parts of the Christmas celebrations. They are affordable and easy to find. This makes them the perfect creative photography tools.

Add sparklers to any photo, and they will bring a magical and festive atmosphere into the images.

When you are working with sparklers, the best idea is to come up with a story. Like a New Year’s Eve celebration or an idyllic Christmas Eve.

We created a few scenes in this detailed article .

How to Photograph Christmas Lights

Whether you are shooting indoors or outdoors, there are a couple of rules you should keep in mind when capturing fairy lights.

For example, Christmas lights are beautiful but not very powerful. To make their glow visible, you need a slow shutter speed. This means that you also need to use a tripod. Otherwise, you cannot avoid camera shake and blurry lights.

Check out other good tips on how to photograph Christmas lights.

Creative Fine Art Photography

We have talked a lot about still life photographing and capturing everyday objects in a creative way. But creative photography also includes photographing fine art.

What Makes Photography Art?

Before diving into the depths of fine art photography, we need to start from the basics. What is fine art photography? There is no strict definition. Its goal is to express an idea, an emotion or a message.

Fine art photographs are created with a vision in mind. And as carefully as a painting. Often, they need more sessions before being complete.

Fine art photographs should affect your emotions and trigger thoughts. But how do you know whether you created have fine art photos? And how can you create them? The answers are here .

Fine Art vs Commercial Photography

The concept of fine art photography is very abstract. There is no strict definition. But we can distinguish fine art from commercial photography in an easy way.

Commercial photography is all about a product or a service. The main goal of the photograph is to sell the product. And your client will give you strict guidelines.

In fine art photography, you have creative freedom. You can make your images as abstract or as clear as you want to.

Learn more about the differences between fine art and commercial photography.

21 Inspirational Fine Art Photography Examples

To get you more excited about fine art photography, we collected 21 inspirational examples for you.

They might get your inspired. Or they help you identify what belongs to the category of fine art photography.

Some of them will make you think. Others will be disturbing or emotional. But none of these photos will leave you unaffected.

The 10 Best Lenses for Fine Art Photography

If you are serious about fine art photography, you will want to invest in the right lenses.

We collected the ten best lenses to help you out. There is a 35 mm f/1.4 among them. It’s a wide-angle lens that helps you create story-oriented and atmospheric pictures.

7 Fine Art Photography Tips to Get You Started

As you follow the path of fine art photography, you will have questions popping up all the time. The good thing about photography is that it is a lifelong journey of learning.

Start by writing an artist statement. It’s helpful to write it down before a project because it clears your vision about it. It doesn’t have to be a long paragraph, only a couple of sentences.

More fine art photography tips are waiting for you right here .

How to Shoot Statue or Sculpture Photography

You might want to focus your fine art photography on a certain niche , and capture statues and sculptures.

It is always tricky to capture pieces of art. What angle should you take the photo from? And what is the best light to emphasise the beauty of a marble statue?

How to Photograph Artwork: From Settings to Lighting Setups

You might not only want to capture statues but other artwork as well. You can use our tips to photograph paintings, drawings, textiles, prints and many other things.

We discuss everything from camera settings to lighting setup to help you improve your artwork photography.

How to Capture Stunning Fine Art Street Photography

Fine art street photography is the mixture of traditional photography, street narratives, art and post-processing. It is a complex niche in creative photography.

Despite being challenging, it is an awesome way to tell stories through your artistic photos.

The most important thing is patience. Take time to feel the environment and the people around you. Make a mental note of everything you sense: noises, scents, touches. This is the atmosphere you want to convey in a story.

22 Best Fine Art Photographers You Should Know

An excellent way to improve your fine art photography skills is to study other photographers’ work. Get to know their style, their subject choices or their editing skills.

We collected the 22 best fine art photographers to help you find inspiration for your art.

How to Edit Black and White Fine Art Photography

Fine are photography often appears in black and white versions. Black and white photography allows you to highlight shapes, textures and emotions.

It is easier to tell a story via black and white photography because the colours are not disturbing the viewer’s attention. You can capture pure and raw reality in black and white.

To be able to get impressive results, you have to learn to edit your black and white photos. Here is our editing guide for stunning B&W fine art photography .

Make Sure to Avoid These 10 Fine Art Photography Mistakes

Photographers are also humans, so they make mistakes. Sometimes, you won’t be able to succeed in certain photography genres. Or you will fail to accomplish a photography project.

But this is normal, and the best you can do is to learn from your mistakes. Or better, learn from other photographer’s mistakes.

We collected ten fine art photography mistakes to avoid . For example, we don’t want you to spend a lot of money at the beginning of your fine art photography road. Use a camera, one lens and a simple background. Practice and take limited equipment as a creativity challenge.

The Complete Guide To Fine Art Photography: 135 Tips

Fine are photography is one of the most creative areas of image capturing. It allows a lot of creative freedom and keeps your imagination fresh.

If you are all about fine art photography, read our complete guide here . We have 135 tips to help you master this beautiful niche of photography.

Post-Processing Ideas for Creative Photography

Creative photos wouldn’t be complete without some editing. Sometimes, you only need to play with the tones or the highlights. Or maybe you need to remove some unwanted details.

But you can also make your creative photography more unique by using post-processing tricks.

How to Use Focus Stacking for Sharper Photos

Sometimes your images don’t turn out as sharp as you wished. Focus stacking is the right solution for your problem.

Focus stacking is a technique that combines many images of the same object shot at different focus points. The result will be a photo that is sharp everywhere. It’s a very common technique in macro , landscape , still life and architecture photography .

Here is a guide to using focus stacking.

How to Make Cool Glitch Art Photos

Glitch art is getting more and more popular. You can see it everywhere, from social media to music videos.

You can edit your photos and add an extra creative wow factor to your photography. Check out this tutorial for making cool glitch art photos, and master your creative photography skills.

Popular Content

15 Creative Photoshoot Ideas You Can Do At Home

These photoshoot ideas will inspire you to whip out your camera and start snapping pictures!

If you ever get the urge to be creative, why not do a photoshoot from home? You don't need a professional photography studio to get beautiful photos.

Here is a list of creative photoshoot ideas you can easily do at home using your camera or phone, and simple props. So, dive in and get ready to shoot!

1. Create Artsy Pictures With Objects

Everything around you can be a prop, from your favorite skincare products to the art hanging on the wall. The idea is for you to use the seemingly mundane things around you as an aesthetic.

Perhaps you can pick a few cute perfume bottles and a fur rug for this photo. For lighting, crack a window or get a ring light. Then, as is expected of any photoshoot, move things (or yourself) around until you get a shot you're satisfied with.

2. Use a Mirror

Mirrors can add an interesting element to photos. Plus, mirror pictures are probably the most straightforward DIY photoshoot idea that you can do at home.

The trick is to find interesting or colorful elements and use them as the focus of the photo. Angle your mirror and camera correctly, and you'll have yourself a pretty picture.

3. Use Wallpapers as a Backdrop

If you have fun wallpapers in your home, they can serve as a backdrop. You can create outfits or color schemes that complement the colors in the wallpaper, or you can choose to blend right in with its elements.

4. Don't Forget the Backyard

A picture of you surrounded by vegetation in your backyard would be a great aesthetic. You can use your garden or favorite plants to capture an earthy, cozy vibe.

5. Paper and Magazine Clippings

Remember when magazine posters were all the rage? Well, it turns out that they make a great backdrop for photos. Hang up some magazine posters on a bare wall, or use old newspapers to create a moody backdrop.

6. Bedsheets Do the Trick Too

Another easy but creative photoshoot idea is to use bedsheets as a backdrop. Hang up crisp white bedsheets, and watch your picture go from bland to airy and bright.

7. Bring Plants or Pets Into the Picture

Photos with your plants or furry friends give off a warm allure. Go for neutral-toned outfits and props to create a classy, minimalist look.

8. Get in the Tub

It's weird, but the internet particularly loves pictures of people in bathtubs. You can get creative with this; get some water, bath bombs, or even milk, throw in some fake flowers, and hop in the tub. Keep in mind, though, that you will need a tripod or someone else to handle the camera.

9. Show Off Your Home Decor

If you have a knack for home decor, there's no better time to show it off. Use your favorite spots in your home as a backdrop, or simply take a picture of an interesting section of your home.

10. Food and Drink Aesthetic

Food and drinks always make fantastic subjects to use in pictures, and they don't require too much effort. You can capture your meals and drinks in natural lighting, create a color scheme, add some fun props, and voilà—an Instagram-worthy photo!

11. Play Dress-up

You are your best muse! Get yourself photoshoot-ready by putting on some makeup or unique clothes. You can even put on dramatic face makeup or style yourself in a retro outfit to spice things up. Recreating old pictures is also an excellent idea for a photoshoot.

12. Use Your Collectibles

If you have a collection of cool figurines, souvenirs, or other sentimental items, your collection can make for a great photo. Play around with interesting arrangements until you get a shot that portrays the story you want to tell.

13. Recreate Spa Day

Recreate a relaxing self-care day with an at-home spa photoshoot. Get your favorite skincare products, and light a scented candle or two to create a moody scene.

14. Use the View

If your apartment or home has a great view, it's time to take advantage of it. Take a photo of yourself in front of a window, with the view in sight. Your balcony area can also make a beautiful background.

15. Grab a Foggy Mirror Selfie

Turn on the shower, and wait for the steam to rise. Once it covers your entire bathroom mirror, snap a photo of yourself behind the fog. This can make for an abstract and eerie photo.

Other Tips for DIY Photoshoot Ideas at Home

Doing a photoshoot at home doesn't mean that your pictures have to be boring. Here are some additional tips to make your photos stand out even more.

Photoshop Is Your Friend

Photoshop can turn a simple picture into an interesting masterpiece. You can play around with picture manipulation , collages, or light and shadow effects.

You can do a lot of editing with this software. But if it is a little too complicated for you, PicsArt or Lightroom are simpler to use instead.

Related: What Is Adobe Lightroom and What Is It Used For?

Try Creative Lighting Effects

Another great way to step up your photoshoot is to use props that create unique lighting effects.

Get under a knitted blanket, and focus the light on yourself (or stay in the direction of natural sunlight). You can also use a piece of lace fabric to do this. The effect might look like this:

You can also try adjusting your window blinds to create layered shadows. This can create an edgy picture like this:

There Is Endless Inspiration at Home

Break out of the limits of your location, and put the items around your house to use. Remember that your photos don't have to be perfect on the first, second, or even third try.

Don't give in to the temptation to delete all your shots if they don't meet your expectations. Sleep on it, and then try some edits to change things around. You can even look to VSCO or Lightroom for cool presets that will take your photos from bland to bomb!

• Anniversaries
• Baby Showers
• Cards and Stationery
• Father's Day

Photo Books

• Wedding Invitations

65+ Photography Project Ideas You Can Start Today

Written by  Shutterfly Community Last Updated: Dec 8, 2020

Do you want to sharpen your skills, learn fresh techniques or just have fun with your camera? Photography projects help you accomplish all three.

Shop Trending Categories

Wedding Invitation

Graduation Announcements

Canvas Prints

Through themed projects, you can capture unique images that follow a certain framework or style. Your project can last a week, month or year—depending on how in depth you’d like to go. To offer you inspiration, we’ve compiled 68 creative photography projects that are appropriate for all skill levels.

Once you’ve completed your project, be sure to create a photo book with your images or select your favorite for a canvas print .

1. Self Portrait

By switching the focus from other subjects to yourself as the subject, your photography takes on a whole new perspective. When setting up your shot, choose a landmark item to use as a stand-in until you’re ready to jump in the frame.

Play with auto and manual focus with your stand-in until you get the shot just right. Then, enter the scene using the timer option.

For the wisdom project, the goal is to gather photographs of those who have offered you wisdom or a helpful perspective. You might feature grandparents or mentors—or be inclined to include young ones who have provided you a fresh angle on life.

Aim to capture individuals in their natural state, especially if it’s in a location where they shared a special moment with you.

3. Candid Photo

Photographing someone in their natural state allows for their true personality to shine through. With a candid photography project, incorporate a range of human subjects for a diverse collection, or capture the same subject across different settings and days.

Building a portfolio of several candids allows you to paint a vivid persona of your subjects.

4. Street Style Photography

Authentic street style photography allows you to snag shots of the latest fashion—all without the strut of the runway. Look for colors first (either eye-catching or stunningly neutral), then watch for the cut and structure of the clothes.

Aim for overall beauty within the frame, including the street or walkway, so the focus isn’t solely on the clothes.

5. All About The Details

Create a collection of shots with unique subjects that focus on the details. Whether the photos are for an engagement , graduation or everyday occasion, you can take portraits of smaller details, like wisps of hair, relaxed hands and prominent features. Making your subjects feel comfortable and confident in front of the camera is the first priority. Plan a single shoot for various angles to help capture what looks best on a given day or moment.

6. Natural Element

Plan for your gallery of photos to include candid shots of the subject in their element. Whether they love the beach or like to craft, you can capture your subject in their favorite space or place to go.

If a subject feels awkward in front of the camera, have him or her lean against something vertical, like a fence, wall or car. They’ll feel more anchored and their body angle will offer the photo some character without seeming unnatural.

7. Pet Photography

From cats to dogs to horses, the heart and soul of your pets can be captured with the right technique. Incorporate natural light in your shoot keep watch of your pet’s eyes. Expressions and personality often shine through and it’s a great time to capture these moments.

8. Motherhood

Being a mother is one of life’s greatest gifts. When we’re parents, beautiful moments take place along with messy and chaotic ones. Encapsulate the full spectrum of motherhood with photos from quiet moments like snuggling with your child to lively times like cooking together in the kitchen.

With any photography project, it’s important that your images tell a story.

9. Panoramic Pictures

A popular technique for landscapes, panoramic photography enlarges the viewpoint beyond the normal size of a camera lens. To ensure there are no gaps in your panoramic shot, overlap your image by 15-30%.

You’ll also want to keep your camera as level as possible to ensure the photo is even throughout. Don’t forget that panos work well for vertical shots, too, like waterfalls and deep canyons.

10. Sunsets Photos

Sunsets make for stunning photos—especially when executed well. For maximum beauty, be sure to slightly underexpose the sunset for rich and dramatic colors. Use manual mode and a fast shutter speed for underexposure, or use aperture priority with exposure compensation.

Make your sunset even more magnificent by arranging an object or scene in the foreground of the sunset, like a lake or mountain.

Mist and fog are natural elements that can enhance the beauty of your photography. Check the weather to determine when fog might pop up. Oftentimes the best lighting for fog photos occurs in the wee hours of the morning or late in the evening after sunset. The low lighting causes a slower shutter speed, which means a shakier camera.

Keep your camera as still as possible or use a tripod. The best places for foggy photos? Open bodies of water and other sweeping landscapes like fields and low rolling hills.

12. Cityscapes

Hovering skyscrapers and diverse skylines are part of what makes cityscapes such attractive photography. For a cityscapes project, try different vantage points across the city to see what works best (think: a popular lookout compared with a more secret locale).

Prepare for an after sunset shoot, allowing the city lights to pop against the dark sky. Remember to use a wide angle lens to cover as much ground as possible.

13. Water (Rain, Ocean)

Whether you’re hoping to create scenes of smooth, flowing water or capture dynamic waves crashing against a seawall, it’s critical to have better than average camera equipment. For nearly every water shot, a tripod is also essential to keep the frame still for the length of the exposure (usually two to four seconds).

Pack along a lens-friendly cloth to remove splashes and water marks. Plan to get wet if you’re banking on a stunning water shot.

14. Seasons

Each season offers its own charms—from snowy branches to colored leaves. Select a location for your seasons project where you’ll snap photos throughout all four seasons. Once the year is complete, you’ll have a collection of stunning images that tell the story of your special place over the course of a year.

15. Star Trails

Spectacular from edge to edge, star trails photography is an adventure to shoot. The first step is to find a clear sky full of stars, but free of pollution and other light interference. Anchoring your camera on a tripod, set your camera to shoot on manual mode. The faster the lens you have, the better.

Once you have your shot prepared, select drive mode for consecutive shots rather than a single frame. With your remote, let your camera take photos for thirty minutes up to a few hours, depending on the length of star trails you’re creating.

Capturing still images with a remote-controlled drone opens up the options for angles and perspectives in your photography. Consider sending a drone above a beach, golf course or mountaintop.

Increase the altitude of your drone for a more impressive viewpoint and try GPS mode for a more stable shot.

17. Food Photography

As a still life technique, food photography requires a few main ingredients: good lighting, props and style. Place your items near natural lighting or use a flash to give the photo a balanced look. When it comes to the arrangement, consider adding in table setting details like plates and silverware.

Amplify the photo’s texture with decorative pieces like colorful fruits and sprigs of herbs. For a well-rounded food photography project, shoot a variety of foods and dishes.

18. Black and White Month

Instead of using the full color spectrum, this project idea prompts you to capture images in black and white only. Two-toned photography provides a different perspective or feel to your work, and gives you a chance to highlight people, places and objects in a novel way.

For instance, a close-up of hands be enticing when displayed in color, but in black and white, the image paints the story that all humankind is united.

19. Everyday Moments

Photos that showcase a slice of regular life contain a certain genuine beauty. When preparing for everyday moment shots, make sure subjects are comfortable. People should interact as if you aren’t even present.

The true magic happens when you’re able to capture two people’s true connection.

20. Random Acts of Kindness

The random acts of kindness project prompts you to capture someone doing something thoughtful or helpful for another person. By photographing these moments, you’re telling a larger story of humanity.

To be successful in this project, you’ll need to keep a keen eye out for small acts of generosity, like a young man holding the door or a little girl smiling at a stranger.

21. Shoes For a Week

Narrow your photography focus for a week by capturing different styles of footwear. From boots to sandals to athletic shoes, diversify your image collection. Be sure to utilize a range of angles to create unique stories for each photo (i.e. a guy lounging with shoes on, two people talking while standing, a woman running).

22. Comfort Zone Challenge

Pushing the limits of your creativity often leaves you with impressive and surprising results. With the comfort zone challenge, throw caution to the wind and experiment without expectations.

Maybe that means you’ll shoot a paragliding experience, a fireworks explosion or animals in action. When you’re snapping shots, play around with your shutter speed, aperture, focal length and movement.

23. 30 Strangers

Taking a photo of someone whom you’ve only just met can be thrilling. It can also be personally and professionally rewarding. Through the 30 strangers project, you’ll capture 30 portraits of people you’ve never met before. Find people on the street, in a shopping mall or at a park.

Be sure to ask each person’s consent first before posting publicly. The 30 strangers challenge will certainly stretch you outside of your artistic comfort zone.

24. Duotone

Duotone photography refers to a multitone production of an image, usually imposed through photo editing techniques. The superimposition of a contrasting color halftone (normally black) over another color halftone enhances the middle tones of an image.

Photographs with one main object, like a flower, seashell or tree, are ideal for creating duotone effects.

25. Perspective

Perspective photography can take many forms: those shot from a low angle, ones with strong leading lines and those that look straight up into the sky. Whether your scene is a railroad track or skyscraper, your image should emphasize the angle and the unique perspective you’re hoping to give the viewer.

Train your eye to notice patterns, lines and reflections you can capture from different angles.

Not only is coffee delicious and rejuvenating, it’s also a work of art. Collaborate with a barista on a latte design or the type of mug to use. Choose a simple backdrop so the coffee remains the focal point.

A dark backdrop is best if you’re aiming to capture the steam rolling off of a warm drink.

27. Create a Photo Album

Let your memories last forever by creating a photo album for a recent vacation, an adventurous summer or a year filled with fun. Design your photo album with a theme in mind to build cohesion. Vary your layouts from page to page for texture and personality.

28. Traffic Lights

When photographing traffic lights and other light trails, the best time is during or after twilight on a night when minimal wind is present. Based on your camera angle and objects, you’ll need to adjust and experiment with your settings.

Often times, shutter priority mode is ideal along with a shutter speed of six seconds. Make stability a non-issue with a tripod, and remember you won’t be using a flash.

29. Happy Days

Allow joy to take the center stage of your photos. Whether they’re candid shots of family members interacting or a single subject, make sure the smiles are natural. Enhance the happiness level by highlighting the subject with ample natural lightening.

30. Photo Scavenger Hunt

Challenge yourself and your fellow photographers by setting up a photo scavenger hunt . Rather than choosing objects and locations to capture, create a list of photography styles to achieve. For instance, your list might include building a motion blur or catching a clear action shot. At the end of your hunt, you’ll have a collection of impressive photographs.

31. Night Scenes

Night scenes, also known as low light photography, allow you to make the most of dark scenes that are hard to capture. When less light is present, it means you’ll also have slower shutter speeds, which equals more camera shake. For this reason, landscapes and long exposures at night time require tripods.

Whether you’re shooting special moments around the campfire or gazing up at the stars, utilize a wide aperture or a low f-number to let in as much light as possible.

32. Polaroids

Polaroids offer a timeless feel and give photos a natural frame. When creating a collection of polaroids, be sure to switch up your angles and perspectives. Try a few upclose shots of objects along with macro shots of mountains and lakes.

For polaroids with human subjects, allow for plenty of natural light and aim for candids.

33. Letters/Signs

With any inanimate object, the challenge with photography is to bring it to life. With letters and signs, try to enrich the shot with the surrounding scene whether it’s greenery or a neat light fixture. Angle your lens in a way that makes the lettering most striking.

Build a full photography project with at least five to ten different signs.

34. Action Shots

To nail a clear action shot—for sports, animals or anything else—the most important aspect is to be prepared. Consider pre-focusing your shot, so when the subject enters the frame, you’re ready.

Because it may take several shots to capture even one solid photo, shoot in short bursts for a few seconds at a time. Keep extra space at either edge of your frame to allow for your subject’s movement.

35. Abstract

Fundamental to abstract photography are lines and curves. The shapes you highlight will guide the viewer’s eye to a certain engaging element. To get up close and personal with an object or design, use a macro lens. With the macro, your photo composition will have clearer resolution and sharpness. Complete your project by gathering a collection of abstract photo pieces.

36. New Lens

Your camera equipment plays a large role in your work as a photographer. Your tools, like your lenses, can fundamentally change the structure your art.

To sharpen your skills, try using a single lense for an entire month. Ideally, the lense will be new to you—allowing you to master the new tool and broaden your photography skills.

37. Architecture

Photographing architecture—whether modern or classic—presents unique challenges. Consider capturing an array of building styles for your portfolio and don’t forget to mix up your angles. Vary your shots by choosing a different weather conditions and times of day.

Through your diversity of shots, you’ll have richer story of the buildings’ relationship with the environment.

38. Thankful

To enhance your gratitude and happiness, consider completing a thankful project where you take one photo every day of something you’re grateful for. From flowers to pets to family members, find subjects that have personal meaning to you.

By capturing what you’re thankful for, you connect deeper with the people, places and things that surround you.

39. Sunday Mornings

Whether you’re enjoying a cup of coffee or a good book, snap a photo every Sunday morning for one month or a year. Capturing everyday occurrences through photography is a form of artistic journaling, helping you to document life’s big and small moments.

40. Top View

The angle of your shot makes all the difference in how appealing and engaging it is. Try a series of photos where your perspective comes from the top. Amp up the creativity by getting higher for your shoot and using a wide angle lens.

A busy environment, like a packed street or active household, can become a striking composition when using a top view perspective because it offers necessary distance from the cluttered setting.

41. Guilty Pleasures

We all have foods and activities we love despite feeling that they might not be held in high regard. Perhaps your guilty pleasure is cream-filled donuts or binge watching reruns of your favorite sitcom.

Collecting images of your guilty pleasures will likely bring you humor and levity, knowing that these items are a part of you, but they don’t necessarily define you.

42. Silhouettes

Forming a distinct contrast between light and dark, silhouettes highlight one or multiple subjects. Ensure your subject is backlit with the sun behind them. The best times to shoot silhouettes are in the morning or late evening.

Build a stunning image by setting the scene with open space, like in a field or along the beach. Set up your camera angle facing the sun, then ask your subject to stand between the sun and you. Play around with the exact angle until you have a strong contrast.

Create a collection of photos shot with prism filters on your lens or by placing a prism in front of your lens. The light that dances off of the prism will add creative effects to your photography by dispersing light before it hits the camera. Secure your camera on a tripod so you can have your hands free to play with the prism and lighting.

Prism photography can include large subjects like nature scenes and architecture or smaller objects like books and candles.

44. Symmetry

Finding subjects that offer you symmetry is the foundational step for this photography project idea. Look for symmetry in architecture and nature, but don’t leave out human and animals subjects. Smaller details, like hands or feet, often make for the perfect symmetrical photo.

Bokeh photography is denoted by one unique characteristic: a blur produced in the out-of-focus area of an image. The blur, produced by a lens, helps direct the focus of the photo. A fast lens is necessary to achieve this technique, with at least an f/2.8 aperture.

With a wide open lens, you can create bokeh with subjects like butterflies, humans and fencing around a baseball field. These photos are perfect for framing around your home .

46. Action Figures

Due to their size, action figures are easy to rearrange and shoot from multiple angles. Bring the scene to life by having the figures interact with each other. If you’re looking for an extra challenge, tell a story through your action figures, like one you would find in a comic book. Include action shots against a simple backdrop.

47. Steel Wool

Although it may seem like steel wool photography would require expensive equipment, it is a surprisingly inexpensive technique. For this project, you’ll need the following: a camera, lens, tripod, shutter cable, steel wool, string, stainless steel whisk, lighter and protective gloves. In a dark location—away from combustible items and other people—burn steel wool that’s loosely packed in a whisk.

As the steel wool burns, spin the whisk either vertically or horizontally to create the desired effect. The burning will only last about ten seconds, so you’ll want to set up for at least five seconds of exposure time. Steel wool photography creates wild and interesting images, but be sure to follow safety precautions to avoid hazards.

To enhance your skills and test out a nifty shooting technique, try macro photography on tiny subjects like insects, match-heads and flowers. Keeping your budget in mind, choose a magnification lens that lets you make super small items appear larger than life. For your macro project, vary your subjects.

Consider nature’s smallest members, miniature household items and up close shots of human elements for your portfolio.

49. Double Exposure

Double exposure, also known as multiple exposure, is a technique that combines two images in a single image. By using double exposure, you can create a distinct effect like a mirror image or ghost-like presence. The layering technique can be done with or without photoshop, depending on your equipment and skill set.

50. Escapism

Photography, like any type of art, can be a form of escapism. Through the camera, we can create images that help us step out of reality and into our daydreams. Prepare for your escapism photography project by thinking of your ‘happy places’ or locations you go to get away.

After brainstorming, head to one of those locations and shoot scenes that offer a mystical aura—whether it’s birds fluttering in the forest or the clouds lifting off of the mountains.

51. Shadow Art

Just as light is a critical element to photography, so is darkness. With shadow art, the focus is placed on the subject as it blocks light from reaching a surface, like a sidewalk or table. Experiment with the angle, distance and size of your light source to alter the intensity and scale of your shadows.

Consider humans as your subjects, but inanimate objects, too, like musical instruments, buildings and action figures.

52. Texture

From brick walls to tiled roofs to wooden fences, textures are all around us. Complete a photo challenge where you take one shot of a textured surface every day. Turn on your auto focus to ensure the object is in perfect focus. Adjust your distance from the subject based on how much detail you want in your image. This idea is perfect if you’re also looking for creative Instagram photo ideas .

Aim for a ninety degree angle when you shoot the image so your texture is lined up straight with the camera.

53. 365 Wardrobe

On each day of the year, snap photos of your clothes before you begin the day. Arrange them differently—sometimes orderly, sometimes more carelessly—to gain a sense of how your mood changed from day to day. Remember to include accessories like purses, shoes, belts and headbands.

54. Suspend Time

Photography is a powerful art medium: it can even pause time. Whether you’re suspending an item with a fishing line or taking a shot of someone jumping, you can create the look of time being stopped. Start this photography project by choosing three items or people you’d like to suspend.

55. Balloons

Bursting with color or more neutral tones, balloons make for versatile props. Let helium balloons off into the sky and capture photos as they float up. Surround the birthday girl with balloons in an otherwise empty room. Or tie a balloon to a child’s wrist and photograph them as they wander through a park.

56. Hotel Carpet

If you travel frequently, the hotel carpet project may be the right kind of fun for you. Next time you’re walking through a hotel lobby, glance down at the carpet beneath your feet. All sorts of patterns and colors are used in hotel carpets across the world. Take a snapshot (ideally at a 90-degree angle) of each carpet for a collection that will help you remember all of the places you’ve been.

Across neighborhoods and cities, doors provide insight to each home’s character. For this photography project, set out on an adventure to collect as many styles and sizes of doors as possible. Choose a macro approach, where the whole door makes the shot, or go micro by narrowing the frame to door handles and styles of wood.

58. Juxtaposition

To build juxtaposition in your photographs, place two opposite subjects next to one another. Like a blue ocean and a green forest, the contrast between the two is noticeable yet stunning. Types of juxtaposition might include a person and their shadow or a thin item next to a thicker item. For this photography project, try several contrasting subjects or locations.

Photos full of irony can be humorous or thought-provoking. Maybe you snap an image of a tow truck hauling another tow truck or you notice a descriptive sign in a place that doesn’t quite seem to fit. When it comes to ironic photos, a keen eye is needed along with a quick wit.

60. Fairy Lights

Fairy lights make for beautiful focal points. You can wrap the lights around a tree, weave them between human subjects or fill mason jars with them. Build a larger scene by ensuring no backdrop distractions are present or capture the fairy lights up close.

Regardless of what subjects and scenes you decide to shoot, proper exposure is crucial.

For this photography project, choose smoke as your primary accent. Incense sticks are easy to use and allow you to play with various colors. Your setup should ensure ample ventilation for the smoke to escape the room. Some photographers merge two photographs (one of the smoke and one of the object) to design a special scene, like one of a toy train blowing smoke or a tea kettle steaming.

62. Vintage Cars

From sporty models to classic town cars, vintage vehicles never go out of style. Look for vintage makes at car rallies and exhibitions, although sometimes you’ll come across them in your everyday happenings. The golden hours, right after sunrise or right before sunset, are ideal for shooting cars. Highlight specific parts, like bumpers, trunks and hoods for diverse perspectives.

63. Faces In Things

You’ve probably seen images that double as a face and another object. In this photography project, you’ll create a similar effect. Take a close look at nature, food and furniture to locate hidden human faces. Compile as many faces as you can, and see if your friends can guess what’s in the images.

Alter your perspective by shooting your subject through a picture frame. The frame technique works best outdoors where you can place ample distance between your lens and your subject. Consider creating scenes with a woman standing on the beach, a tree in an open field or a tall building at the end of a street.

65. Reflections

Any body of water—like a lake, river, pond or swimming pool—can act as your reflective tool for this photography project. You’ll want to avoid direct light on the water to eliminate glare. Practice using reflections on waterfront cityscapes or mountains overlooking a lake.

66. Take My Hand

When you can represent human connection in photography, the emotion of the image is strengthened. Head out on a hike or stroll through a garden to practice photographing two hands linked together.

67. Picception

A relatively new technique, picception images incorporate another camera or photo into the shot. It can be a picture-in-a-picture style or something more subtle like a photograph of someone taking a photograph. While often informal, picception shots can be formal if intentionally designed.

Often eye-catching, neon photos provide a stunning mix of light, shape and color. Whether you’re on the Vegas strip or exploring your hometown at night, take photos of neon signs with your camera’s evaluative meter exposure setting. Choose a low ISO of 200 or 100 to avoid noise. Be sure to place your camera on a tripod for stability.

No matter which photography projects you decide to complete, remember to enjoy the process and save copies of your photos. Design a themed calendar or metal print to showcase your results.

Explore Categories

Graduation Invitations

Custom Photo Blankets

Save the Dates

Wall Calendars

Written by Shutterfly Community | View all posts

★ Lifestyle Expert

Shutterfly Community is here to help capture and share life's most important moments. Discover thoughtful gifts, creative ideas and endless inspiration to create meaningful memories with family and friends.

Visit their Website . You can follow on Instagram and Pinterest .

Matching products or accessories

Sign in or create an account to access your information.

• Email Preferences

Your Cart is Empty

Creative Photography You Can Do At Home

Self-assignments of everyday subjects to spark your creativity

I spend close to 300 days a year on the road shooting assignments and teaching workshops in some of the most far flung locations you can imagine. I love to travel, and photographing new cultures and environments gets my creative juices flowing. Sights, smells, colors, and sublime light jumpstart my passion for image making.

But what ideas and subjects could you photograph at home to improve your photography?

© Tom Bol

Since my creative awakening at home, I’ve found countless subjects to photograph. Each morning looks different in my backyard. I see shadows on the wall I never noticed before. Buzzing insects get my attention as new subjects.

Take the home photography challenge. You might be surprised what you discover what’s been in front of you all along.

Chase the shadows. Have you ever noticed how many shadows are in your house or right outside your front door? I hadn’t until I really started looking for them. Window light creates endless patterns on the walls and floor. As the sun moves across the sky during the day, the shadows will transform on different surfaces. When the sun sets, use room lights to create shadows. I like to convert shadow images into B&W. Eliminating color accentuates graphic shapes and patterns.

Macro photography requires slowing down, and really scrutinizing the small scene. Normal compositional guidelines apply, you just have to work with tiny details. A small pine needle can create a beautiful image. Try focusing on what is around you. Take your time to really ‘see’ the small details.

Proper gear is important. For macro photography, a macro lens is really handy. My favorite macro lens is the Nikon 105mm Micro-NIKKOR. This lens allows me to get life size reproduction of the subject in the frame, and the narrow angle of view helps keep compositions clean and simple. I normally use a cable release to prevent any camera movement during the exposure. If you don’t have a cable release, try using the self-timer for a delay of five seconds. You can use a tripod if you feel you need it, but you can also make great macro images hand-held. Just make sure you set a fast shutter speed like 1/500 second.

Depth of field is critical with macro photography. For maximum depth of field, make sure the front of your lens is parallel to your subject. Try an aperture setting of f/16 and review the image on your LCD for sharpness. Flat subjects should be sharp. But images with a lot of depth may require special techniques like focus stacking . Here's an article on creatively focus stacking flowers .

Water droplets are a great macro subject. And you don’t have to wait for it to rain. I use a plant spray bottle. This spray bottle produces tiny water droplets that look great on plants and add circular reflective shapes to my images.

Embrace the season. It is spring in Colorado right now, which brings a variety of weather. Today it is sunny in my yard. I’ve been out photographing spring flowers, early morning frost on leaves and graphic shadows on our house. Tomorrow we are under a winter storm warning, and six inches of snow is expected. I will have a completely different environment to photograph tomorrow.

Whatever the season is, celebrate it. What images can you create that really exemplify the season? Is it cold or hot? What photographs best illustrate temperature? In spring, I try to capture concepts such as spring growth, renewal and new beginnings. At the same time, I’m photographing powerful graphic images that stand alone.

Set up your home studio. Many of my assignments take place outdoors. While I love shooting outside, many times the weather gets nasty, my gear gets trashed and I don’t get the image I had envisioned. On days like these I envy studio photographers who can control their photographic conditions. Photographing at home offers every photographer this option. Try building your own home studio.

I like to set up a small studio in my garage, but any indoor space will do. I’ve even used the kitchen table with some props and Speedlights to create images. Subject matter can range from small still life shots to portraits of family members. Create an interesting background that will complement your subject.

Lightpaint  your world. I always bring a small pen flashlight with me on trips. With extra time on my hands at night, I lightpaint objects in my hotel room. Really, it’s fun, and the images are great. You can easily lightpaint at home. All you need is a small flashlight, a tripod and a dark room. Small objects on a table work great. Everything from decorative ashtrays to flowers will work well. I like outdoor activities, so I often light paint fishing and climbing gear.

Lightpainting technique is fairly simple. First, set up your camera on a tripod. Next, focus on your subject in the light. You can use either autofocus or manual focus, but after you’ve focused on your subject, switch to manual focus. You don’t want your camera searching for focus in pitch black conditions. Using Manual mode, set your shutter speed to 30 seconds, aperture to f/8 and ISO 1000. I normally leave my white balance on Auto. I use a cable release to trigger the shutter to eliminate any vibration. You can use a wired or wireless remote if you have one. Once you open the shutter, turn on your flashlight and pulse light across different areas in scene. Small focused flash bursts will give you more control. The trick to good light painting is not illuminating the entire scene. What is lit is just as important as what is dark. Just pulse small bursts of light onto specific areas in the shot. Experiment, review images on you LCD, and keep photographing. Adjust your settings as needed for a correct exposure.  

Learn online. After you’ve exhausted all your ideas for shooting at home, find inspiration here at Nikon Learn and Explore. There are numerous articles and videos on a wide variety of topics. New cameras are discussed, and techniques range from simple creative ideas to advanced flash and video production. Read the articles and view the videos on your phone, tablet or computer.

Once you begin to realize all the home photography possibilities, you can stay busy for days with self-assignments. You don’t have to travel to the far ends of the planet to create beautiful images. Who says you can’t create great images at home?

Tom Bol is an adventurous and inventive photographer with over 25 years experience shooting editorial, commercial, lifestyle and advertising assignments. He is the author of Adventure Sports Photography: Creating Dramatic Images in Wild Places . Examples of his work and information about his workshops can be found at tombolphoto.com .

This Article Goes Great With These Products

More like this, article collections, articles like this, right in your inbox..

By clicking Sign Up, you are opting to receive educational and promotional emails from Nikon Inc. You can update your preferences or unsubscribe any time.

You’ve successfully subscribed to Nikon’s Learn & Explore newsletter.

Popular Topics

More from nikon.

Your email has been sent

We like sharing articles, too!

Sign up for Learn & Explore emails and receive inspiring, educational and all around interesting articles right in your inbox.

Your message is sending

A - Z Index

24 creative photography projects for 2024

4 seasons of creative challenges and inspiration to enjoy over the next 12 months

Creative photography projects for winter 2024

Creative photography projects for spring 2024, creative photography projects for summer 2024, creative photography projects for fall 2024.

It’s time to bid farewell to 2023 and say hello to 2024! The new year is always a great time to start afresh and to reassess your ambitions and aims for the year. As well as thinking of the personal changes you want to make, you can also think about what you want to achieve from your photography – and we are here to help you do just that. 

To get you started, we’ve curated 24 fabulous photo projects for you to try throughout the year. The aim is to tackle one project every fortnight so you can explore different genres and use different skills that will help you grow as a photographer.

To make it easier to follow, we‘ve themed the projects into seasonal categories, starting with winter, but mix and match as you see fit. You can also adapt our suggestions to suit your own shooting and editing style – feel free to put your own creative stamp on them!

Project 1: Fabulous flora

You may think that spring and summer are the best times of year to take stunning garden shots, and while this is true, the winter garden also has plenty of photographic opportunities. Look for structural and skeletal plants such as dead thistles or cow parsley to shoot as your main subject. Remember to get down low to compose your shots. Bring along a bag or old cushion to save your knees from getting dirty and wet on the ground.

• Convert your images to black and white. This style of photography lends itself to the monochromatic medium as your winter garden shots should all be about the form and structure of the plant. 
• Isolate your subject. Think about your background and how to make your subject stand out. A wide aperture setting will help you do this. 
• Consider how you are going to present your image. A double or triptych can work well.

Project 2: Bleak landscapes

Instead of waiting for the perfect golden hour, embrace the dull weather by shooting bleak and minimal landscapes this winter. Misty conditions are ideal and use negative space to aid your composition. This type of project can be shot in both rural and urban locations, so wherever you live, you can achieve great results. Trees work particularly well as a main subject, but so do man-made structures such as water towers and industrial power plants. Have a look at the works of Hilla and Bernd Becher and Josef Koudelka for some inspiration.

• When converting your image to black and white, it’s easy to over-boost the contrast and make the blacks too dark and the whites too light. Pulling it back a little will let the image speak for itself.
• A wide-angle lens is useful for this style of photography.  
• When it comes to composing your image, as well as using the rule of thirds, you can also think more symmetrically.

Project 3: Light the way

Winter months are the perfect time to shoot light trails. Head out into the urban environment or look for a busy and interesting piece of road for your location. Essential kit includes a tripod, high-vis (if you stand near a road) and a wide-angle lens. Experiment using different shutter speed settings (starting at 30 seconds) to see how they add to the final effect. The speed of the traffic and the number of vehicles will also affect the result.

Project 4: Serene still-life

On those days when it’s freezing cold or the rain is hammering down and you can’t face the outdoors, find some household objects to create a simple still-life setup. In our example, we used some candles as our main subject and draped a household plant around to add some interest to the shot. Your background choice is also important as this sets the feel and tone of the image.

Get the Digital Camera World Newsletter

The best camera deals, reviews, product advice, and unmissable photography news, direct to your inbox!

Project 5: Creative portraits

This project is easy to do at home but it will require some planning, milk (around six liters), a model and flowers, although these are optional. We shot our image using flash and elevated our position above the model using a step ladder. Make sure you have your camera strapped and secured to your body to avoid any accidents. To create the milky effect, fill your bath about halfway with warm water and then add the milk. If you don’t want to use fresh milk, you can also use milk powder.

• Bounce the flash to achieve a clean look. You want to avoid heavy or distracting shadows. 
• If you’re going to add floating flowers to the milk, add these after your model is in position; otherwise, they will go underneath the water as your model gets into the bath.  
• Once you’ve added the milk, the water cools down reasonably quickly – be ready to shoot so that your model doesn’t get cold!

Project 6: Festive bokeh

Bokeh comes from the Japanese word boke, which means blur or haze. In photography, you can achieve an easy bokeh effect using a lens that can be opened to a wide aperture setting – the wider the better, so prime lenses are ideal. You will also need some lights in the background, and small lights work best, so Christmas trees are perfect for this type of effect.

Project 7: Bring spring indoors

When the first signs of spring start to emerge, we all seem to breathe a sigh of relief… However, we are also aware that April showers can go on way beyond April, so on those rainy days, bring the spring indoors. A flat lay is a great way to do this and can be achieved in a few easy steps.

Set up the background

Lay down a piece of coloured card on a table and place it next to a large window. As you want to make your image bright and vibrant, colored card will work best.

Bounce the light

To reduce the shadows, place a reflector on the opposite side to your main light source. This lifts the image and removes the stronger shadows for a more even result.

Set up your camera

Put your camera into Aperture Priority mode and set the aperture to f/4 and the ISO around 200. You can either shoot this handheld or on a tripod if your shutter speed is too slow.

Project 8: Animal portraits

Many animals are born in the spring, so take advantage of this to create some characterful animal portraits. For a winning shot, keep the focus on the eye or the face of the animal to create a connection between the subject and the viewer. Animals can be tricky to work with (especially those that aren’t domesticated) so be patient and keep shooting to ensure you get a winning shot.

Project 9: The Bartocha technique

Sandra Bartocha was one of the first to invent this popular technique where you layer images on top of each other (often nature images) to create a beautiful effect. To achieve this, shoot multiple images of your subject at different focus points and then build your image using an editing software program like Photoshop , where you can blend multiple layers together.

Project 10: Garden lifestyle

The spring garden is the perfect setting for a lifestyle project. Although this shot looks as though it has been taken candidly from behind the flowers, it has in fact been carefully composed and thought through to sell the dream. Placing items such as a blanket and a magazine on the table adds that lifestyle element to the scene and enables the viewer to picture themselves in that setting.

Project 11: Beautiful butterflies

By late spring, many different varieties of butterfly are starting to hatch. To shoot our spring butterflies, we grew them ourselves. We ordered some caterpillars from Insect Lore (insectlore.co.uk) and watched them grow from caterpillars into Painted Lady butterflies – this is also a particularly interesting project to do if you have children. When we released the butterflies into our garden, they were completely docile, meaning we could spend time getting them into a good position.

• Head to your back garden or the local park and look for flowers (such as the daisies in our example) or for interesting backdrops where the butterflies can rest.
• Use a long lens such as a macro 100mm prime for best results.
• When shooting at a close proximity, your aperture setting is affected. For example, our images were shot at f/8, which on a wide-angle image would be sharp from front to back. For our butterfly images, f/8 was the perfect setting as it softened the background while keeping some of the butterfly sharp, which was the effect we were after.

Project 12: Wide and shallow

As spring leaps into action, you’ll find fields of flowers starting to bloom. Our instinct and habit when we shoot a wide-angle shot is to set the aperture to a narrow setting to keep the scene sharp from front to back. On this occasion, however, you should do the exact opposite. Open your aperture to a wide setting and blur the background and foreground. This works best in-camera if you have a lens that can go as wide as f/2.8. However, if you don’t have an f/2.8 optic, shoot as wide as you can and then exaggerate the blur effect at the editing stage.

• Look for a colorful setting. Fields of tulips or lines of flowers are the perfect arrangement for this technique (lavender fields also work in the summer months).
• Think about where you want your focus to sit in the image. About a third of the way up often creates a pleasing result.
• Plan your shoot to coincide with good weather. Avoid the brightest part of the day and opt to shoot in softer light at the beginning or the end of the day.

Project 13: Splash and shoot

Jumping into the sea or a large body of water is great fun to do and you can get some eye-catching photographic results at the same time. To make sure your shots are sharp, set your camera to fire in the fastest burst mode you have and ensure your AF setting is set to the tracking feature, so you can follow your subject. You may need to get your model to do a few jumps to get the perfect shot.

• It’s all about communication. Speak to your model first to tell them where they need to jump so you can be ready to get the action shot.
• Shoot a sequence of images and either pick the best of the bunch or present them as a sequence. 
• Sea salt and cameras do not mix! Protect your camera with a waterproof cover and keep it clear of any big splashes. A long lens will help you get close to your subjects.

Project 14: Divine drinks

Cold drinks on a hot summer’s day make the perfect combination for a winning photograph. Not only is it better to shoot into the light here, but you also want to make sure your drinks are ice-cold so that they bubble with condensation, which adds to the overall effect.

• Think about your setting and how that adds to the overall look. In the summer, an outdoor setting such as a garden is the best way to go.
• Open your aperture to a wide setting to blur the background and isolate your subject.
• Bring in additional props to add interest to the corner or side of the frame, but make sure they don’t become the main focus. Here, we used a pair of sunglasses as a prop.

Project 15: Summer scenes

The first or last light of the summer day are the best times to shoot spectacular summer scenes. Blackpool Sands in Devon, pictured here, were shining as the sun set behind the fields. Shoot in raw format and bring those warm tones back into your image at the editing stage to make the most out of it.

• Calm and still days are the ideal settings to shoot scenes like the one below. Have a recce beforehand to work out the best spot from which to compose your shot.
• Use a wide-angle lens to frame the full scene and look for curves and shapes in the landscape to help you with your composition.
• At the editing stage, bring some detail back into the shadows. You may also need to warm the shadows up as the light is much cooler there compared with the rest of the scene.

Project 16: Perfect portraits

The long summer days are blissful and at the start and end of the day, the light begins to soften meaning you can achieve excellent results with your portraits. Coordinate your sitter’s clothing to match the scenery. In our example, the girl’s blue flowery dress matches the flowers on the ground perfectly. We’ve also added a creative filter and toned the image to make every element in the scene work together.

• Have fun and engage with your subject as you are shooting. Although it might be tricky to think about camera settings while directing a model, you should make sure they are comfortable.
• If working with children, you need to be quick as they won’t stand still for long. To hold their attention, do your research first – find out their interests so you can engage with them for longer.
• Keep the focus fixed on the face, but if shooting closer up, focus on the eyes.

Project 17: Capture fun at a festival

If you like people-watching and listening to loud music, there’s nothing better than photographing a music festival. These images were taken for the Dart Music Festival last summer and are the perfect example of how to get great results…

Look for light

Photography is all about finding the best light and this is also the case at a festival or an event. Natural or ambient lighting can be used to your advantage so look for opportune moments with your subject in the setting.

As well as photographing the musicians at a music festival, there are lots of images to be captured in the crowd. Look for fun moments, especially when people are unaware of your presence for a more candid and natural result.

Capture the moment

It’s all about being ready to capture the perfect moment. A shake of the head or someone jumping in the air are always winners. Keep your ISO above 800 to ensure your shutter speed is fast enough to freeze the action.

Project 18: Shoot big group photos

Shooting a large group of people is never easy so think of fun ways you can get them to engage with each other. People feel a lot less awkward if they have something to do or are given good direction. These colorful bridesmaids naturally formed around their bride, creating the perfect lineup for a group picture. Luckily, it was a hot day so it didn’t take much encouragement to get them to paddle in the water! Make sure you keep your aperture setting around f/8 so everyone in the frame stays sharp.

Project 19: Fall close-up

As well as offering plenty of opportunities for wide-angle shots in the fall, the small details of the season are also a joy to photograph. Look for slithers of light to frame your subject and when it comes to editing your images, follow our steps for atmospheric results. We think Lightroom is one of the best image-editing software programs for toning and styling your images, so we opted to use this.

Open Lightroom

Import your images and then go to the Develop Module. Start by adjusting the controls in the basic tab. Correct the Exposure and White Balance, boost the Contrast and use the Whites, Blacks, Shadows and Highlights sliders to tone your image. Also, play around with the Tone Curve setting below for further effects.

Profiles and presets

Profiles and presets are easy ways of toning and styling your image and are a great starting point. You can create your own or import them. There are plenty of profiles and presets for sale on the internet. We added a touch of a profile called Soft Fade as the base for our image. You can adjust the amount applied by any profile or preset using the Amount slider – sometimes a hint is all you need.

Color grading

Now take it a step further and go to the Color Grading feature. This enables you to color-tone the mid-tones, highlights and shadows separately. Start by picking your color, for example, warmer mid-tones and highlights and cooler shadows; you can then adjust the amount added by clicking further out on the circle. Again, less is more, so have a play around for subtle results like ours.

Project 20: Location portraits

Although landscape photographers search for that perfect autumnal light, portrait photographers also do the same when out on location. This image taken of a girl at an outdoor adventure club is the perfect example of what a setting sun in autumn can bring to an image.

• Keep your camera in Aperture Priority mode and knock the exposure meter down a stop to ensure your highlights aren’t overexposing.
• Shoot into the light, keeping the focus on your subject.
• Color is important for a shot like this so think about what you want your subject to wear. In our example, the red jumper is perfectly matched to the light conditions.

Project 21: Shoot abstract architecture

Sometimes less is more, such as in this example of an image of a beach sauna. The contrast of the patterned orange tiles placed against a clear blue sky is what makes it such an effective result. You don’t need to go far to find this type of image, so have a search around your local area to see what you can find.

Project 22: Still-life around the home

If you need a day at home, you can still take great photographs. The home has plenty of areas you can style, from living room areas to a shelf and dresser in the bedroom. If you have busy surfaces, remove the clutter and style your shots using a few books, plants, candles, blankets, cushions or whatever you have lying around… it’s also a good excuse to have a clean and sort out household items at the same time.

• Use a tripod as you want to keep your ISO down low to ensure your shots aren’t grainy. Using a tripod indoors enables you to keep your ISO low, at 100, as you will need to use a longer shutter speed. 
• Unless you have a library of beautiful old books that all match in color and style when shooting books, turn them around so you can’t see the spine to create a neutral look. 
• For scenes where you have a big difference between the highlights and shadows of the image, try bracketing exposures and merge the shots at the editing stage.

Project 23: Fire and food

Smoky and fiery conditions are perfect for food photography in action. Look for flames created by dripping meat to capture effective results. When it comes to selecting the right camera settings, don’t be afraid to push the ISO up if you are shooting in low light. Here, we set ours to 1600 and the aperture at f/2.8 to get a shutter speed of 1/400 sec. This meant the action of the flame and the hand stayed sharp.

Project 24: Present your photos

On those rainy days later in the year, take time to reflect on your photography, go through and organise your photos and edit them accordingly. Try printing out some of your images, thinking of different ways to present them, and if you need to share images with a client or a friend then find a pleasing presentation method, such as the wooden box in our example, or frame your favorite photos of the year and hang them on a wall.

Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription

Join now for unlimited access

Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

Claire is a professional photographer and writer, and lives by the the sea with her two young children, husband and cat in the southwest of the UK.

After graduating from The Bournemouth Arts Institute with a first-class degree in photography, Claire worked for a number of years in the publishing industry, including as Technique Editor for Digital Camera magazine.

She loves anything and everything to do with photography, from creating magazine articles to photographing ballerinas on the beach and newborn babies (but not at the same time). She mainly shoots with digital DSLRs, but does dust off her beloved Hasselblad medium-format film camera once in a while…

Related articles

24 Creative Business Ideas for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

D o you want to start a business that pads your wallet and fuels your creative personality? Keep reading; we have a mega list of creative business ideas!  

Before I began my blog, my quest to earn a good living and do something I loved felt futile. I had always enjoyed helping people, traveling, and writing, but I could never figure out how to practically apply my passions to a career that would pay me a decent wage.

Many times I thought I had it figured out. But once I began the work, I slowly lost interest and started searching for my next gig. I couldn't figure out what to do professionally.

Through the process of leaving the work world to become a stay-at-home mom, I eventually realized what I wanted. Aside from my desire to be at home with my daughter, I also longed for a career that would offer me flexibility, good pay, and a creative outlet.

Fast forward to today. I'm able to spend lots of time with my family, I earn more than I ever made as a nurse, and I get to call the shots and nurture my creativity.

The good news is nowadays; it's a lot easier for individuals with creative personalities to start a business that they are passionate about.

If you're ready to be in charge of your career direction and work on passion projects, here are some creative business ideas to inspire your entrepreneurial journey.

If you love to create worksheets, planners, coloring sheets, gift card holders, or any other digital products, you can make good money with a printable business ! For this business, you don't even need any graphic design skills! You can use a free platform like Canva to create printables to sell on sites like Etsy or Teachers Pay Teachers .

One business owner who earns over $1,000 a month selling printables on Etsy is Cody Berman . On his Etsy shop, he sells digital printables. Cody has been so successful at this side hustle that he started teaching others how to start their printable business from home! 

2. T-Shirt Designer

Graphic tees have made a comeback. Whether you love to share and promote great designs from others or you're a design guru yourself, there are many companies to help make your t-shirt design dreams come true.

Companies like Spring and Spreadshirt can help you get your designs onto shirts and on the bodies of your customers, earning you a commission on every shirt sold. Most companies also offer the opportunity to print your designs on other items, like mugs , stickers, posters, and more. If you have an idea for a catchy saying, cool graphic designs, or funny drawings, designing t-shirts might be the home business you're looking for.

3. Photography Business

If you're a skilled photographer, stock photography is in high demand, and there are many buyers and platforms who will pay you a commission, give you assignments, or buy photographs you've already taken. Sites like Shutterstock and Getty are a couple that pay for stock photos.

Don't have a fancy camera? No problem. Smartphone apps like Foap will allow you to upload photos from your smartphone to their site. Each time one of your photos sells, you earn money.

Check out this article for more ways to make money selling photos .

4. Photo Book Designer

If you're more into scrapbooking than photography, you can use your creative skills to earn money by creating photo books. Using scrapbook design software, you can get creative by helping others organize their photos so they can archive them in a keepsake book rather than being lost in the digital abyss.

With smartphones and digital cameras, people snap hundreds, even thousands, of vacation photos, pictures of their kids, and holiday moments … but those images just sit there. Scrapbooking takes time and talent, so if you've got the eye for it, you can create beautiful masterpieces, earning you money while having fun.

Here's an interview with three photo book designers  so you can see how they got started. In fact, Rachel Jenkins of ScrapMyPix says she receives a large portion of her business through referrals and networking. She started scrapbooking while working on a baby book for her son. She says, "It was a perfect creative outlet for me. As I was putting those pictures to pages, I thought, 'I wish people would pay me to do this.'" If you've got a talent for organizing photos and digital scrapbooking, photo book design might be perfect for you!

5. Web Design Business

If you have experience in website development, you know it can be a very creative process. Some people cringe at the idea of learning HTML, navigating through the land of platforms, and web hosting. But if technology doesn't frighten you, this can be a lucrative and creative way to earn money from home.

If you enjoy website building , your services can be extremely valuable to bloggers, sellers, and other online business owners. Even if you have to outsource some aspects of the process (such as logo design to a resource like Fiverr or Upwork ), you can do much of the page designing and layout yourself with your creative skills.

6. Graphic Designer

While graphic design is competitive and working for an agency often requires a degree or extensive experience, there are still plenty of ways for you to make money from home in graphic design .

Self-taught designer Karen X. Cheng says, "I got my job as a designer without going to design school. I had hacked together my own design education in 6 months while working a full-time job … To be clear, I'm nowhere near as good as those design prodigies that come out of a 4-year education at an elite school like RISD. But I'm definitely good enough to do my job well. I'm the only designer at Exec [the startup firm where she works], so I do a pretty wide range of things – visual and interaction design, print, web, and mobile app design."

If you have design experience and think you're ready to take it to the next level, look at online design job options from sites like Dribbble , FlexJobs , and Legiit to see if you can find the right opportunity. Alternatively, you can advertise your services and showcase your portfolio through your own website and by working your network.

7. Freelance Writer

Writing from home is an excellent way to express your creative side and hone in on your talents. There are tons of platforms out there to help freelance writers connect with job opportunities. Try looking at  Freelancer  or FlexJobs to get started.

Alternatively, you can write blog posts for a variety of paid outlets. Head to BloggingPro or ProBlogger for job listings and writing opportunities. Need advice on how to build your work-at-home writing career? Make a Living Writing has your answers. You can also check out our comprehensive list of paid writing opportunities .

And don't feel you're limited to writing articles and blog posts. There are many opportunities for you to express your creative side with writing -- such as writing greeting cards, poems , recipes , resumes, ghostwriting , copywriting , e-books , and more.

8. Event Planning

I love the idea of being an event planner—and in fact, I considered it as a career option at one point. It's so much fun to plan parties, set up for guests, and think up different themes, foods, and decoration ideas . As a work-at-home event planner, you can help with major events like weddings, fundraisers, and large-scale gatherings or small events like children's birthday parties and showers. Find your area of expertise and build from there. Think of a niche before you begin, then start networking!

Word-of-mouth can be great advertising for any event planner , particularly if you want to work within a small area (like within your neighborhood, school, or church). Once you get your foot in the door with one event, reach out to others, pass out your business cards, and see where it takes you.

When it comes to making money from home, blogging has grown by leaps and bounds. If you enjoy writing and sharing your thoughts and ideas online, blogging is an excellent way to earn money. You can choose a topic you're passionate about, work on your own schedule, and make money with advertising, sponsored campaigns , affiliate marketing, course sales, freelance services , and more!

If you aren't sure how to get started, download my free e-book, Blogging Success . Consider what you would like to blog about and look for your particular niche and style. Once you have a plan, check out this post on to how to build your blog with WordPress. Don't worry; you don't need a tech background to get started.

From there, you’ll need to develop a regular writing and posting schedule. Be sure to include the best SEO techniques on your site and in your articles. Then build your network, and promote your posts using social media and  email marketing .

10. Crafter

DIY and craft mavens can use their talents to sell their wares from home. You can sell your handmade items on sites like Etsy. These sites are simple to use, increase your exposure, and help connect you with potential customers.

However, if you want to grow your brand, you'll eventually need to create your own online shop. Use an e-commerce website builder like Shopify. With these platforms, you can sell directly from your site and promote your products via social media, blogging, and email marketing.

It's important for those running a craft business from home to remember to connect with local vendors and market spaces as well. If you live in a town with a farmer's market, local festivals, and craft fairs, these events are great opportunities to get your products in front of potential customers and increase your exposure.

12. Start a YouTube Channel

Do you enjoy creating videos, slideshows, and tutorials? YouTube is one of the most popular social media platforms, and there's big money for those who can turn out entertaining and helpful videos.

Most YouTube creators make money from affiliate marketing, sponsored campaigns , and Google Adsense . To earn money through Google's ad monetization, you'll need at least 1,000 followers and 4,000 public watch hours, so it's important to post content that's engaging, well-put-together, honest, and helpful.

Wondering how much you can make as a YouTube Star? Check out Judy Travis' story ! She's earning over a million dollars a year creating YouTube videos, amazing!

12. Fashion Designer

If you're a seamstress, a fashionista , or have an excellent eye for sewing and detail, becoming an online fashion designer might be a great business idea. You can create and sell your items on your own website or set up shop via a third-party platform like Etsy.

Need help launching your fashion line?  Lisa Springsteel Dupré has some excellent tips and advice in this post.

12. Illustrator

Are you great at making ideas come to life through drawing? Book publishers, web designers, and authors are looking for your talents! If you have a passion for drawing, you can find illustration work through companies like Avatar Press and Cricket Media .

You can also submit your designs to Rubber Stamp Madness and Teacher Created Resources or join a site like 99 Designs .

Check out listings on Upwork for comic artists and illustrators as well.

Another option is to watermark your illustrations and sell them on Etsy for download. As your creative talents and connections grow, you may want to explore joining a professional illustrators organization such as the AOI .

Similar to selling crafts , sewing, or photography, your business as an artist will vary by your area of expertise. If you enjoy painting portraits or pictures of animals, you can try your hand as a portrait artist for hire. Advertise online, and talk to other local artists.

Many cities have artist networks and feature open galleries. Talk to local coffee shops, bookstores, and other small businesses about displaying your work for sale. Fairs and street festivals can also be excellent opportunities to display and sell your creations.

Remember, when selling your art, you may want to offer smaller, more affordable options (postcards, prints) rather than only large paintings, especially if you're interested in getting your work in front of people and finding new buyers.

You can also sell your artwork online using platforms like Artfinder and Aftcra . For more online platforms where you can sell your artwork for money, check out this list .

15. Podcaster

If you have the gift of gab, producing a podcast might be your calling. Find your niche and start to brainstorm topics you'd like to discuss. You will need a microphone and some basic audio editing software like  Audacity or Garage Band . Once you've recorded and edited your podcast, you're ready to publish. Just find some platforms to host your podcast and then promote it. iTunes is a popular platform, but there are many others to choose from. To make money from your podcast , you can include sponsorships or advertisements.

16. Lip Gloss Maker

Don't think you can make big money selling lip gloss from home? Kylie Jenner has made billions selling her lip gloss and cosmetics. While this is an extreme example, Kiki Quesada has made quite the name for herself on TikTok selling lip gloss through her online shop Kikiz Cosmeticz. Not only does she have fun shades and colors, but she adds glitters and yummy flavors. I'm not sure how much Kiki is earning, but with over a million TikTok followers, I'd say she's doing pretty well.

17. Content Creator

If you enjoy creating content, whether it's writing, taking photos, or filming videos, there are many ways to make money as a content creator! To get started, choose a niche market like crafting, cooking, dancing, woodworking, or something completely different, and start creating content and posting it to social media sites like Facebook, TikTok , Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube, or even LinkedIn. Competition is fierce between these platforms, and they all have creator funds that will pay you to create content. But creator funds are not the only way to make money; you can work with brands on sponsored content , create UGC for companies, sell your own merchandise and courses, or use affiliate marketing or ads to generate revenue. 

18. Calligrapher

When I was younger, I had a calligraphy set. And even though I spent hours trying to master my craft, I never was able to produce the gorgeous handwritten script that was shown in my book. If you have beautiful handwriting , you can make good money with a calligraphy business. You can sell your services addressing wedding invitations, selling SVGs on a marketplace like Etsy, or even creating fonts to sell online.

According to  Career Explorer , a calligrapher earns an average of $61,580 per year, with some making as much as $115,020 annually. 

19. Slime Seller

When my daughter was in elementary school, she loved making slime! She spent hours each day making slime and filming videos. Little did I know that she was selling the slime at school and making quite a fortune! The slime that is being sold today looks nothing like what my daughter was selling. Some companies make slime baking kits where you combine slime ingredients that look like real food products, such as eggs and butter. Then you combine all these slime ingredients into a finished pie or cake. It's wild how far slime has come! 

One company that makes these ingenious slime kits is Slime Community . They release new slime kits on TikTok, and they are always sold out. They recently had a Thanksgiving slime kit that sold for $39.99. If you're looking for a fun side hustle that you can do with your kids, being a slime maker might be your calling.

20. 3D Printing Business

If you have a little money to invest, starting a 3D printing business is a great way for creative entrepreneurs to express themselves. With a 3D printing business, you can create prototypes for other entrepreneurs, 3D printed parts for digital nomads who are building out their vans or can design your own products to sell, like planters, toys, puzzles, coasters, organizational products, and tools. Once you have some products, you can set up a shop on Etsy, which will only cost you $0.20 per listing. You can cross-promote your Etsy listings on your social media accounts to reach more potential clients. 

Austen Hartley is one entrepreneur who makes money using a 3D printer. In 2021, he earned over $100K from his 3D printing business! He has a helpful  YouTube video  if you're interested in pursuing this profitable business idea. 

21. Cricut Entrepreneur

Another unique business idea is becoming a Cricut entrepreneur. If you're unfamiliar with Cricut, it is an intelligent cutting device that can cut materials like vinyl, paper, leather, wood, iron-on fabric, and more. These materials can be used to create custom coffee mugs , labels, sweatshirts, cards, decor, and so much more! 

Melanie from Simple Made Pretty is one entrepreneur who used a Cricut machine to launch her own business. She started creating one-of-a-kind greeting cards and selling them on Etsy. Today, she also runs her blog, showcasing DIY and craft projects. 

If you're wondering what crafts you can make with a Cricut, check out this list of ideas .

If you have a great voice and enjoy acting, voice acting is a great way to make money and use your creative talents. As a voiceover artist, you can narrate TV and radio commercials, audiobooks , educational films, phone prompts, and more.

For this career, you'll need to invest in some equipment, such as a high-quality microphone, audio interface, pop filter, and recording and editing software like Audacity or Garage Band. And most importantly, you'll need a quiet space to record your clips. You can use acoustic sound panels, purchase a portable recording booth, or even use a closet to accomplish this.

To find voice-acting jobs , you can check out Voices.com , BunnyStudio , and Voice123 .

23. Soap Maker

Another creative small business idea is becoming a soap maker! In fact, according to  Quicken , the average US consumer spends $60 a month on personal grooming supplies, making this a potentially lucrative business venture. From all-natural soaps and shampoo bars to specialty soaps for people with skin care concerns like eczema, there are many different niches you can target with this online business idea. 

Once you have the soap-making part down, set up an e-commerce website on Shopify, or use an online marketplace like Etsy , Amazon Handmade, or eBay . You can also choose to sell locally at farmer's markets. Check out this detailed post for more info on starting a soap business from home.

24. Charcuterie Board Business

One new business idea that's become extremely popular is the charcuterie board business! This is a fun and creative way to combine your passion for food and creativity into one unique business. From doing small-scale events like birthday parties and anniversary parties to large events like weddings, you can do this business full- or part-time, depending on your financial goals. Specialize in appetizer boards or dessert boards; the sky is the limit with this creative business idea. Check out this article for more inspiration on running a  charcuterie board business from home!

Creative Business Ideas Wrap-Up

There are so many great ways for creative personalities to earn money from home. As you think about ways to make money, consider what you really love and what truly speaks to you. What talents do you have? What makes you feel the most fulfilled? After all, one of the secrets to success is to love what you do!

Are you making money from home by doing something creative? We'd love to hear what you're up to and how you've found success!

Ready to start your business? Grab our FREE Simplified Business Plan Template , which will walk you through the questions and steps you need to take to get your creative business off the ground!

Holly Reisem Hanna is the Founder and Publisher of the award-winning career website  The Work at Home Woman.

20 Unique Photo Gift Ideas for Your Favorite Shutterbug

Whether you're shopping for friends or grandparents, these personalized picks have you covered.

We've been independently researching and testing products for over 120 years. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more about our review process.

We've all got that friend, partner, sibling or parent who's obsessed with photos, whether they're taking them constantly or enjoys proudly displaying them throughout their home. But with all of the options out there, how do you hunt down the best photo gift ideas for the photophile in your life? To help find you the best options at affordable prices, we scoured Amazon (and other great sites) to bring you an assortment of one-of-a-kind presents.

Custom Moon Lamp

Moon lamps were a hit with Good Housekeeping readers in 2023 and there's no sign of this slowing down. Take the trend a step further with this custom moon lamp, which can be printed with their favorite photo. It changes into 16 different colors for even more fun.

Photo Cubes

"A great simple way to make someones day brighter," one Amazon reviewer shared about these plastic cubes, which come in a set of four. Each one holds six photos, so they can proudly display snaps of their significant other, family members or even their pet.

Stone Photo Slab

For under $8, they can customize this unique stone slab with their favorite family photos. It comes in a bunch of different sizes and along with the heart shape, there are square, semicircle, round, rectangle and oval designs.

Create Your Own Photo Flashlight

They can take their favorite pictures wherever they go with this photo flashlight. It'll instantly project their shots onto any surface they choose and it comes with a reel that can be customized with eight different images.

Hanging Macrame Photo Frame

Perfect for children, teens and graduates heading off to college, this lighted hanging macrame photo holder will brighten up any room. It's battery-operated and comes decorated with small beads for some additional flair.

Photo Pillow

It's hard to believe this cute photo polyester pillow cover costs under $20! The seller will customize it with their favorite photo and it even comes with a pillow insert. "The picture is nice and vibrant. Good quality print," one happy Amazon customer shared.

3D Crystal Photo Frame

While this might seem a little pricey for a photo frame, hear us out: It's so unique and the cost is well worth it. Original photos are turned into a 3D crystal stunner.

Photo Wine Glass

If they're newlyweds or just enjoy a delicious glass of vino, this customizable photo wine glass is the gift for them. It can be customized with a special phrase, date or name.

Photo Custom Heart Necklace

They can keep their nearest and dearest close to their heart at all times with this photo necklace. Made of sterling silver, it comes on a box chain with a lobster clasp that's easy to unhook.

Photo Snow Globe

An adorable gift from mother to daughter, the base of this photo snow globe can be customized with her handwriting. Not a bad deal for under $15, if you ask us.

Sonogram Triple Photo Frame

Perfect for new (or expecting) parents, this triple photo frame will capture their most treasured moments. The best part? It's foldable and will easily fit any table or shelf.

RELATED: 26 Best Gifts for New Moms

Mini Mobile Photo Printer

Make collecting (and displaying) their favorite memories easy with this mini mobile photo printer. It'll easily connect to their smartphone for inkless printing and each shot comes with a stick-on backing.

Heart Shapshot Photo Collage

They can display their best photos all in one place with this heart-shaped photo collage. Take your pick of six different sizes and several different frame styles to suit their space.

Personalized Comic Book

This personalized comic book is too much fun to pass up. The artist will customize it with any story you'd like and it can be made in either magazine or hardcover form.

Personalized Spotify Plaque

A personalized plaque with a sweet photo and your song? Count us in! Made of acrylic, it uses LED lighting to create an inviting glow, plus it can double as a nightlight.

Custom Hoodies

There's nothing cuter than his-and-hers matching hoodies, which can be customized with your favorite photo. Made of a soft cotton-poly blend, they're super cozy and cuddly to boot!

RELATED: 40 Thoughtful Gifts for Couples, No Matter Where They Are in Their Relationship

Custom Photo Sequin Pillow Case

Made with reversible sequins, this custom case will turn your boring throw pillows into a work of art. It comes in fun colors like rose gold, light blue, purple and green to match their home style.

Grandma Hanging Photo Frame

Nana will love this adorable wooden hanging photo frame, created especially for her grandchildren. Printed with a cute sentiment, it has hanging hearts for a little extra pizzazz. She might even think you made it yourself!

RELATED: 66 Unique Gifts for Grandma You Won't Find Anywhere Else

Custom Photo T-Shirt

If she's got an edgy sense of style, this custom photo t-shirt will suit her perfectly. It comes personalized with all her best selfies and it also has a place for custom text.

Customized Memorial Nightlight

If their loved one just passed away, look no further than this lovely LED nightlight. It can be personalized with a heart-shaped photo, cradled in between two hands, to symbolize their everlasting love.

@media(max-width: 64rem){.css-o9j0dn:before{margin-bottom:0.5rem;margin-right:0.625rem;color:#ffffff;width:1.25rem;bottom:-0.2rem;height:1.25rem;content:'_';display:inline-block;position:relative;line-height:1;background-repeat:no-repeat;}.loaded .css-o9j0dn:before{background-image:url(/_assets/design-tokens/goodhousekeeping/static/images/Clover.5c7a1a0.svg);}}@media(min-width: 48rem){.loaded .css-o9j0dn:before{background-image:url(/_assets/design-tokens/goodhousekeeping/static/images/Clover.5c7a1a0.svg);}} Gift Ideas 2024

The Best Gifts for Cyclists

These Are the Best Gifts for Gen-Zers

The Best Golf Gifts to Get Them That Zero Handicap

55 Best Gifts for Every Type of Dad

20 Best Breakup Gifts to Mend a Broken Heart

31 Best Dungeons and Dragons Gifts

20 Best Anniversary Gifts for Parents

20 Best End-of-the-Year Gifts for Students

20 Best 12-Year Anniversary Gifts

Long Distance Mother's Day Gifts

25 Special Gifts for New Big Sisters